The suspect, Ezeabata Uju Gloria, was arrested during the screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight on her way to Malaysia at the departure hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Gloria, who works with an accounting firm in Lagos, admitted having a Facebook relationship that got her involved in drug trafficking.
She added: “I met a man on Facebook some months ago who lives in Malaysia. He told me while chatting online that he is from my State, Anambra in South East Nigeria. After some months, he proposed marriage and I told him to come to Nigeria to meet with my parents as our custom demands.
He promised to fulfill every marriage rite. Months later, he invited me to Malaysia, promising to pay all the travel expenses. After several appeals, I decided to visit him. The day I was to travel, he told me to take along a bag of foodstuff sent by his mother from the village. I was given the bag at the airport but in the process of checking it in, drug was discovered inside packs of noodles in the bag and I was arrested.”
Substances that tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 1.325kg were detected in her luggage.
The drug was concealed in 26 packs of noodles in a bag of foodstuff containing plantain, pepper, melon and other spices.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Philip Maduabuchi Akpaka, 39, who allegedly coordinated the travel arrangement for Gloria and gave her the bag containing the drugs.
The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said Gloria was arrested following the discovery of methamphetamine in her luggage.
Philip also admitted preparing the travel documents of Gloria on the request of his friend based in Malaysia.
His words: “I’m a transporter. My friend in Malaysia asked me to prepare travel documents for Gloria. He also asked me to give a bag to Gloria to take to Malaysia.”
Both suspects will soon be charged to court for conspiracy, unlawful possession and exportation of narcotic drugs.
The acting Chairman of the NDLEA, Roli Bode-George, said the arrest of the lady turned out to be a lifeline as drug trafficking is punishable by death in Malaysia.
According to Bode-George: “The Agency has uncovered plot by drug trafficking organisations to use the social media for recruitment of drug mules. After a painstaking surveillance, we have successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs to Malaysia by a courier recruited online via Facebook.
Some of the tricks to watch out for include marriage proposals to unsuspecting female victims, unsolicited generosity like cash and other gift items as well as offering all-expense paid trip to Asia, Europe, America and South Africa.
This arrest is significant considering the fact that Malaysia recently sentenced a Nigerian to death for drug trafficking. The mode of recruitment is also instructive because of its mass appeal to youths. I expect lovers of social media to learn from this arrest.”
See how marriage dey land some women/babes into trouble
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