Nigerian student arrested for drug trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Nigerian student, Vitalis Dike, studying in Malaysia, for drug trafficking.

Dike was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, during the screening of passengers bound for Malaysia via a Qatari flight.

The suspect recently escaped death in the Asian country when he was arrested for being in possession of 1.430kg of methamphetamine.

Drug trafficking in Malaysia attracts the death penalty.

The 31-year-old suspect had 1.430kg of white crystalline powder that tested positive for methamphetamine concealed inside his luggage.

A native of Orlu, Imo State, Dike told PUNCH Metro that he was promised $4,000 to deliver the drugs in Malaysia.

He said, “I was asked to take an empty bag to Malaysia and in return get $4,000 but when I got to the airport, the drug was discovered.”

Confirming the arrest, NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the drug was industrially packed in such a way that the agency had to cut the sides of the bag open with a knife to discover the drugs.

The commander said it would take a professional to detect the drugs.

 In a related development, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport discovered wraps of cocaine inside packs of baby powder meant for export to Gabon. The discovery was made inside a luggage containing artificial hair, perfumes and artificial nails.

The luggage was to be sent unaccompanied to Gabon via Askye Airline.

 A suspect, Ebele Iwegbuna, has since been arrested in connection with the discovery.

Iwegbuna, a native of Orifite in Anambra state, in his statement, claimed that he was asked to send the goods to Gabon.

He said, “I was given N130,000 by my childhood friend to buy female hair attachments, artificial nails and perfumes.

“My friend later called to say that somebody would give me children’s powder to add to what I bought. So the person called me and gave me the powder which I added to the goods. It was in the process of search that the cocaine was discovered. I am a technician and I specialise in the repairs of air conditioning units.”

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, who described the involvement of the suspects in drug trafficking as sad, urged members of the public to draw lessons from the arrests.

Giade said, “I want members of the public to learn from the experiences of the suspects. It is unfortunate that at a time when the country is making efforts to save her citizens who are on death row abroad, Dike is deliberately signing his death warrant.”