Businessman Okolo arrested with N1bn Cocaine in Abuja

A 34-year-old spare parts dealer has been arrested by anti-narcotics agents with 9.150kg of cocaine, which were concealed in the soles of foot wears being imported into the country.

The arrest of the Enugu State-born man, identified as Okolo Emenike, was made at the weekend, during the inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight from Brazil, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Commander at the Abuja Airport, Hamisu Lawan, explained that the discovery of the drugs, with an estimated value of about a Billion Naira, was the last arrest made in year 2016.

Lawan said: “The discovery was made in a shipment of shoes during inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The cocaine was industrially concealed in the soles of new foot wears.”

His story 

During interrogation, Okolo, a father of one, disclosed that he was offered N1million to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria. He explained that he was forced to leave the shores of Nigeria for Brazil in search of greener pastures, when his business was experiencing a down turn, owing to recession. 

However, on reaching Brazil, Okolo said, “things became worse for me as I could not get a job. I had no money to sustain myself while my work permit was being processed. 

“I was equally confronted with the fear of deportation. This made me desperate for quick wealth. In the process, I met my childhood friend, who offered me N1million to traffic cocaine to Nigeria. 

“He also paid for my ticket and gave me three bags of shoes containing the cocaine. But on arrival at the Abuja airport, the cocaine was detected and I was arrested. I had wanted to invest money offered to me in my business that failed due to recession.”

NDLEA boss said this year will be even hotter for people who are living large and destroying other people's lives with illicit drugs.