The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 39-year-old Brazilian returnee with 8.15 kilograms of illicit substance at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The suspect identified as Nnanna Micheal, a native of Anambra State was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.
In a statement, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said the suspect was arrested with 73 sachets of cocaine, which is the largest seizure the airport has recorded since it began international flight operations years ago.
He said during preliminary investigation, Nnanna explained that he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday at midnight en route Qatar to Port Harcourt, claiming that an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
Babefemi said the 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets with five of the bed sheets containing 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets.
He further revealed that an immediate follow-up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick up the drug from Nnenna.
He said the suspect was arrested at the airport’s car park where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latter’s photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passports Data Page in his hand
