DRAMA broke at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos yesterday when an Emirates flight from Sao Paulo to Dubai was forced to land because a suspected cocaine trafficker became ill after ingesting the drugs he had hidden inside his stomach.
Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo in Brazil to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, made an emergency landing in Lagos due to the deteriorating health condition of the passenger. Screening by anti-narcotic officials found four of the passengers onboard tested positive for drug ingestion and they have all been arrested and are currently under interrogation.
One of the suspects in a critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life. Col Muhammad Abdallah, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that the suspect is responding to treatment.
He called for stiffer penalties against drug trafficking. Col Abdallah added that the agency needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking organisations that their actions will not be tolerated.
Col Abdallah added: “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far recorded in the fight against drug control. “Drug traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting involved in the criminal act, so all hands must be on deck to condemn drug trafficking in its entirety.”
Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport added: “A passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three recurrent seizures thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos. Upon arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion.
"They are Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the suspects are under observation.”
Of late, the NDLEA has beamed its search light on flights originating from Brazil and Dubai because of both cities notoriety for cocaine trafficking. It is not yet clear how all four passengers managed to evade screening at Sao Paulo airport.
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