It is another day of reckoning for two suspected drug traffickers, 53-year-old Elvis Uche Iro and 42-year-old Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian who reportedly excreted a total of 165 wraps of cocaine following their arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.
A statement signed by the Spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi says they were arrested for allegedly ingesting the illicit drug.
He said the suspects excreted the drugs while under observation in the Agency’s custody.
The 53-year-old Elvis, a father of four children hails from Abiriba, Ohafia local government area of Abia State was arrested on Saturday 19th March upon his arrival on board Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis-Ababa for ingesting 65 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.376kg.
During preliminary interview, he claimed he is an interior decorator but had to go into drug trafficking because he needed money to start a coffee business, take care of his family and stock his newly acquired shop with curtain materials/accessories in Lagos.
He said he would have been paid one thousand ($1,000) US dollars on successful delivery of the drug in Abuja.
Another passenger on the same flight, 42-year-old Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian was also arrested on arrival for ingesting 100 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 2.243kg.
Ikenna who hails from Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State claims he is a businessman dealing in baby’s wears before venturing into drug trafficking.
During preliminary interview, he said he traveled to Addis Ababa on Thursday 17th March to buy the drug for ten thousand ($10,000) US dollars and returned on Saturday 19th March when he was arrested.
He said he sold his land in his village and took loans from friends to be able to raise money to buy the drug.
He claimed he had to go into drug to raise money for his business after being duped of fifteen thousand ($15,000) US dollars by his friend who lives in China.