Udoh Essien, a 37-year-old Nigerian fashion specialist based in Germany, has been arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine.

According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the suspect was nabbed at the weekend during the screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

“Scanning machine at the screening area revealed that he had ingested suspected substances during the outward screening of British Airways passengers,” said Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the agency.

Mr. Ofoyeju disclosed that the suspect allegedly excreted 75 wraps of the powdery substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 1.27kg while under observation by officials of the agency.

According to the anti-narcotics agency, Mr. Essien is said to be a rising fashion designer of repute, who had participated in several international fashion exhibitions, adding that the suspect has a show room in Ogunlano drive Surulere, Lagos and another in Germany.

The suspect in a statement from the agency, however, claimed that he wanted to use the proceeds from the business to open an online fashion shop, and that financial difficulties led him into the illicit trade.

“I had financial problems and was under pressure. My intension was to close my Surulere shop and concentrate on my shop in Germany.

I have been approached severally to traffic drugs because I travel a lot but I always turn them down,” said Mr. Essien.

Frustration with work

The suspect, who was to earn 4,500 Euros from the deal, further said: “all I needed was to complete my online fashion shop, because I have many products. It was due to frustration and desperation that I agreed to smuggle drugs.”

Hamza Umar, the anti-drug agency commander for MMIA, warned drug traffickers not to risk smuggling drugs through the Lagos airport, saying they would be caught.

Mr Umar disclosed that the apprehended suspect’s claim that he is a “first offender” is being investigated, adding that the suspect will be prosecuted according to the demands of the law.

“The suspect will be charged to court soon,” he said.

source

Interesting.