The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an ex-footballer, Okafor Emmanuel Junior at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, on his arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on board an Ethiopian airlines flight with 1.40kg crack cocaine concealed in his bags.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the 33-year-old indigene of Arochukwu local government area of Abia State was arrested on Monday 26th September 2022 after anti-narcotic officers discovered he concealed the illicit substance in the handles of his bags and padded the top edges of same with the class A drug.
The NDLEA further said during preliminary interview, Okafor said that he was an ex-footballer with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu FC, where he played for four seasons before leaving for Sri Lanka in 2014.
Also, two Malians: Mohammed Demoele, 38 and Coulibaly Maliki, 56, have been arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA at Ebute Ero jetty in Lagos for attempting to export 34.2kg bottles of new psychoactive substance, Akuskura to Mali through Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Also, another Brazilian returnee, Ibeh Chinedu Damian was arrested the same day upon his arrival at the Lagos airport from São Paulo, Brazil via Ethiopian airlines flight.
Ibeh who hails from Ahiazu, Mbaise local government area of Imo State, was found to have concealed 3.20kg black cocaine popularly known as Lucci in false bottoms of his two bags.
The NDLEA said in his statement, he said he was to be paid three million, N3,100,000 on successful delivery of the drug in Nigeria.
