Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have arrested
a South African lady in connection with drug
trafficking.
The suspect, Nene Fikile Happy-Girl, 38, was to
board an Emirate flight to Malaysia when she
tested positive to drug ingestion. Unlike other
suspects, she gave herself up when she suddenly
held her stomach in pains at the departure hall.
According to the Airport Commander, Hamza
Umar, the suspect was rushed for scan and she
tested positive for drug ingestion. “She was to go
through screening when suddenly she held her
stomach and beckoned on security officials
demanding to see a doctor. Immediately, she was
taken for scan and confirmed positive for narcotic
ingestion” the commander stated.
While she was under observation, she excreted
55 wraps of substances that tested positive for
methamphetamine weighing 700 grammes.
Preliminary investigation revealed that she
travelled to Malaysia from South Africa. It was in
Malaysia that she was recruited to smuggle drugs
from Benin Republic. She ingested the drugs in
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Nene also reacted to the drug while it was in her
system and the doctor was invited to assist her
overcome the situational reaction to drug
ingestion. In her confessional statement, the
single mother said that she wanted to make life
better for her nineteen year old daughter. In her
words, “I am a single mother and I trade to take
care of myself and daughter. I visited my friend in
Malaysia and it was there I was convinced into
coming to Cotonou to collect the drugs. They
gave me the drugs in my hotel room and I forced
myself to ingest the wraps”.
It was gathered that the original plan was for the
suspect to use the airport at Benin Republic but
she was diverted to Lagos. “I was asked to go
through Lagos. My desire to give my only child
the best education made me to engage in drug
trafficking. This is my first time and I was scared
of death. I reported myself when I was feeling
acute pain in my stomach” Nene stated.
The South African embassy had been contacted
and some officials had visited her. The anti-drug
agency hinted that she will soon be charged to
court in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief
Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade has
ordered an investigation into the case. Since she
was given the drug in Cotonou the investigation
may be carried out under the aegis of the West
Africa Joint Operations (WAJO) which is an
umbrella body of anti-drug operatives in the West
African sub-region.