Thailand returnee in NDLEA net for importing N3.1billion heroin
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, have arrested Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, a Thailand returnee, for importing 13.30 kilograms of heroin valued at over N3.192 billion.
In a press statement on Sunday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said, “Oguejiofor was arrested on Monday 7th October 2024 while attempting to smuggle out of the airport the illicit drug concealed in six backpacks and then packed into two big suitcases.
“The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state, had left Thailand on 3rd October on Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos while his luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination,” Babafemi stated.
The NDLEA Spokesman explained that the suspect, after landing in Lagos on October 5th, phoned the airline, asking them to reroute his baggage to Nigeria so, he could pick them up as rush bags quickly and avoid security inspections.
However, he was stopped at the departure by NDLEA personnel. Upon searching his two luggage, it was discovered that each box contained three empty backpacks, all of which had a sizable amount of heroin neatly sewed to them with the six parcels weighing a combined 13.30 kg.
“In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana,” NDLEA added.
