Alaba trader caught with 459g drug

An electronic dealer at Alaba International market, Lagos State, Darlington Oleunne, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for attempting to export 450 grammes of methamphetamine to Malaysia.

Oleunne, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International, Airport, Ikeja, was said to have ingested the drugs.

NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, who confirmed the arrest, said, “The scanning machine revealed that the suspect ingested drugs during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Malaysia. During observation, Oleunne excreted 450 grammes of substance that tested positive to methamphetamine.”

Oleunne, however, said, “I was assured that I could make a profit of N5m if I invested N900,000. It was a trial business for me because it is my first time. I also did it because of financial predicament.”

Chairman of the NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, called for stiffer punishment for drug traffickers.

He said, “Stiffer punishment would help in reducing cases of drug production and trafficking. We shall prevent drug traffickers from using the country as a transit point for their illicit business. It is sad that a businessman will prefer to invest in criminality when there are countless legitimate businesses.

“I am glad that Oleunne was arrested in Nigeria because of the capital punishment for drug trafficking in Malaysia. His arrest abroad would have added to the number of Nigerian drug convicts in foreign prisons.”