Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 38-year-old businesswoman, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, after allegedly discovering a large consignment of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was intercepted while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to Beijing, China. During routine screening and inspection of her baggage, officers allegedly uncovered the illicit substance concealed in a specially modified compartment beneath the suitcase.
The agency said the concealment method was designed to evade airport security checks, but its officers detected the hidden compartment during examination of the luggage.
The suspect has been taken into custody, and investigators have commenced further inquiries to determine the origin of the narcotics, the intended recipients, and whether the arrest is linked to a wider drug trafficking network.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to disrupting international drug trafficking operations and strengthening surveillance at Nigeria’s airports, seaports, and land borders. It also warned traffickers that law enforcement agencies are continually enhancing their intelligence capabilities and detection techniques.
Authorities noted that the suspect remains under investigation, and any criminal charges will be determined based on the outcome of the inquiry and presented before a competent court.
The agency urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting efforts to combat drug trafficking by providing credible information that could assist in identifying and dismantling criminal networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
