A Brazil-returnee ex-convict, Okechukwu Francis Amaechi has been smashed with 24 parcels of cocaine concealed in 12 tyres of lawn mowers imported into the country through the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA).

He was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the PHIA. He was said to have just finished serving jail term for drug trafficking in the South American country.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said the 45-year-old ex-convict from Idemili South LGA, Anambra State was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday 7th May upon his arrival from Brazil via Doha onboard Qatar Airline flight QR1433.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that Okechukwu, who was arrested and convicted in Brazil for drug offences completed serving his jail sentence in March 2022, after which he decided to return to Nigeria with three new lawn mowers where he concealed 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.56kg.

“Curiously, each parcel concealed in the tyres of the three lawn mowers bears some unique inscriptions, which are believed to be means of identification of the owners of the drug. The two parcels in one of the tyres of the first lawn mower bear “O LORD” and “HAVE MERCY.”

“The parcels in one of the tyres of the second mower bears the inscription “IN GOD” and “WE TRUST”, while the third mower has “IJIOMA” and “186.6” inscribed on the two parcels hidden in one of its tyres,” he said.

Bbafemi added that Amaechi claimed one of his church members gave him the lawn mowers to deliver to his brother in Port Harcourt.

While commending the officers and men of PHIA, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the war against drug abuse and trafficking was one that must be won.

He, therefore, charged all commands of the Agency to remain on the offensive against the cartels as they take advocacy messages to communities and schools.