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The National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday said Nigerians living in
Europe are fast becoming the delight of drug barons.

Hamza Umar, the
Lagos airport commander of the agency, explained that these youth
already have travel documents that make them easy prey for drug lords
who cajole them to participate in the illicit trade. Ten Nigerians have
recently been arrested by the agency attempting to smuggle narcotics at
the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

“Apart from the two
suspects who live in Lagos, all eight others live in Europe,” he said.
“The total weight of drugs found with the suspects is 12.33kg
consisting of 1.11kg heroin and 11.21 of cocaine.”

The airport
commander gave the names of the suspects as Osaze Godwin, 37, who
ingested 60 pieces of cocaine weighing 1.01kg; Izevbokun Kelvin, 22,
had in him 111 pieces of cocaine weighing 1.61kg; Joe Favour, 26,
ingested 82 pieces of cocaine weighing 1.30kg; Nwodo Ugochukwu, 34,
swallowed 95 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.51kg; and Chinedu Okeke, 40,
who swallowed 69 wraps of heroin weighing 1.11kg.

“Others are
Obarisiagbon Marvis, 32, with 77 pieces of cocaine weighing 1.44kg
inside him; Liasu Ismaila Ajadi, 41, ingested 80 wraps of cocaine
weighing 1.19 0kg; Ejiro Henry, 19, ingested 73 wraps of cocaine
weighing 1.28kg; Lever Solomon Ehigie,21, ingested 66 pieces of cocaine
weighing 900g; and Omorose Kingsley, 28, that swallowed 960g of
cocaine.”

A good name is better

Ahmadu Giade, chief
executive of the agency expressed regrets the “get rich quick syndrome”
inherent in the Nigerian youth, stressing that it is time for Nigerians
to embrace the principles of discipline and contentment.

According to Mr.
Giade, indiscipline and greed are the prevalent factors responsible for
the involvement of youths in the trafficking of narcotics, and urged
youths to re-brand themselves with values that show integrity.

“Drug traffickers
usually act on impulse as a result of greed and indiscipline.
Unfortunately, many only have a re-think after they had been caught,”
he said. “A good name is priceless and what integrity and discipline
offers is far more valuable than silver and gold.”

How suspects were nabbed

Mitchell Ofoyeju,
spokesperson for the agency disclosed that Osaze Godwin, a father of
two who live in Spain, was arrested on May22, during screening of
passengers on Iberia flight, and the suspect’s reason for drug peddling
was to “make ends meet.”

“Izevbokun Kelvin
lives in Torino, Italy, and was caught during the screening of Alitalia
flight on his way to Rome. His reason for trafficking drugs was as a
result of the global economic meltdown,” said Mr. Ofoyeju. “Godwin
hails from Edo State. Joe Favour also from Edo State lives in Parma,
Italy. He was to board Alitalia flight to Rome on May 20, 2010 when he
was caught.”

According to the agency’s spokesperson, all the peddlers will be arraigned for prosecution soon.