The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a Brazilian Da -Silva Mailson Mario, 23, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with a suitcase containing packets of chocolate sweet in which was concealed 7.2kg of cocaine.
The agency also arrested a Nigerian with 12 parcels of cellophane wrappers, weighing another 7.2kg, with white substances which also tested positive to cocaine in the second operation.
In a statement, NDLEA spokesman Jonah Achema said the new methods were uncovered in two separate operations.
“The first operation involved Da -Silva Mailson Mario, a Brazilian aged 23, who was arrested with a suit case containing the packets of the chocolate sweet.
“This was during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline ET 911 which originated from Brazil en-route Addis Ababa to Abuja.
“The second operation involved Elechi Adendu Kingsley, a Nigerian aged 39, who was arrested with a bag containing cellophane bags during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight ET 911,” the statement read.
Achema said that Mario, the first suspect who spoke through an interpreter, decided to be silent on all questions put to him adding that he was only inquisitive about the jail terms his alleged offence might attract in Nigeria.
He said that Elechi, the second suspect, an indigene of Umulolo Local Government Area of Imo State who has been living in Brazil for the past 13 years said he would not blame anybody for his involvement.
Achema said Elechi alleged he was promised N3 million upon safe delivery of the drugs to somebody in Nigeria, adding he was in Nigeria preparatory to his wedding in January 2021.
