NDLEA arrests single mother with 1.7kg cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 51-year-old mother at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos with cocaine and heroin.

This was contained in a statement by the NDLEA’s Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, which was made available to SUNDAY PUNCH.

According to the statement, the mother of four children hid 3.44kg of the drugs in a body cream bottle.



It added, “The drugs were found in her possession during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight to China.

“NDLEA Airport Commander, Umar Hamza, who confirmed the arrest, gave the name of the suspect as Muyinotu Alade.”

The statement quoted Hamza as saying Alade was discovered with 150 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.725kg, and 150 wraps of heroin, weighing 1.715kg, concealed in a container of body cream in her luggage.

“The total weight of the drugs is 3.44kg. The case is currently under investigation,” the commander was quoted as saying.

In her statement, the suspect reportedly said she was offered $4,000 to smuggle the drugs to China.

“I used to import clothes from Dubai and China when my business was going well. I even had a shop at Balogun market. My problem started when I lost my shop and was unable to rent another one. Since then, things had gone from bad to worse.

“My major concern is that I have four children living with me and I am separated from my husband. It was a friend that introduced me to the people that gave me the drugs. They bought my return ticket and offered me $4,000,” Alade was quoted as saying, adding that she hails from Kwara State,.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, described the action of the suspect as unfortunate.

He said, “China is one of the countries with capital punishment for drug trafficking. It is unfortunate for a mother of four to get involved in such a criminal act.

“If not for our vigilance that led to her arrest, she would have been killed abroad and her children left to suffer endlessly.”