Suspected Drug Courier, Ex-Naval Officer, Charged

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Headlines Monday, April 11th, 2011

A former Officer of the Nigerian Navy and one other person have been charged to court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over attempt to smuggle substances suspected to be hard drugs into the United States of America (USA).

The suspect, who served with the Nigerian Navy for 12 years before he retired in 2001, said that his greatest worry now was his wife and son in the United States.

“My wife knows my position on issues. I have been a crusader of good conduct. It is sad that I have become a victim of drug trafficking after urging people to shun the criminal act”.

According to a charge-sheet by the NDLEA made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the suspects are to face a four-count charge of being in possession of banned substances, attempt to export hard drugs out of Nigeria; attempt to subvert the security of the United States of America and criminal act of concealing hard drug. The suspects are expected at Ikeja High court tomorrow.

In a related development, operatives of NDLEA at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos have apprehended two US bound suspected drug traffickers.

One of the suspects, Kalu Stephen Okechi, 45, with dual citizenship of Nigeria and the US was to board a Delta Airline flight to Atlanta, United States, at the Lagos Airport when anti-narcotics officers detected that he ingested 82 wraps of powdery substances that tested positive for heroin.

Upon excretion of the drug, it weighed 1.150kg. The second suspect, Nwankwo Ifeanyi Izebgu, 38, was also found to have ingested 10 wraps of narcotics weighing 210 grammes while attempting to board an Arik flight to New York.

During interrogation, the suspects, said that they needed money to settle their numerous financial commitments.wp_posts