Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have made a significant arrest involving a fake couple attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country. On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Mr. Onyebuchi Ilonzeh and a woman posing as Mrs. Nonyelum Ilonzeh were intercepted at Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of Lagos airport while trying to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to India.
A body scan conducted by an NDLEA officer revealed that both suspects had ingested a staggering 184 wraps of cocaine, weighing 3.322 kilograms, with an additional 100 grams of the drug concealed in the woman’s vagina. Despite presenting travel documents that portrayed them as a couple, further investigation disclosed that they were not related, using the same surname to bypass security checks.
Nkechi Ngogbike, also known as Nonyelum Ilonzeh, confessed during her interview that she was recruited in her church in Aba, Abia state. She revealed that her travel partner, Mr. Ilonzeh, was not her husband, and their association was solely for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip. Their intended destination was India, with promises of $5,000 for Nkechi upon successful delivery of the drugs.
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Mr. Ilonzeh, a former clothing businessman in Onitsha, Anambra state, was promised $2,000 for his involvement in the drug trafficking.
Interestingly, it was discovered that Mr. Ilonzeh had a previous arrest for drug-related offenses. Going by the name Ikenna Uwaezuoke, he was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on March 19, 2022, for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The NDLEA operatives also seized various quantities of illicit drugs concealed in different objects, heading to Europe. Dextromethorphan mixed with heroin destined for Greece was recovered from white neck beads, while cannabis hidden in Dudu Osun black bathing soap was being shipped to Hong Kong. Additionally, methamphetamine and dimethyl sulfone were concealed in weaving threads and an MP3 player, respectively, bound for New Zealand.
In Kano state, five individuals were arrested in connection with the seizure of 977.7 kilograms of cannabis sativa, and 2,445 kilograms of the same substance were recovered from the warehouse of a fleeing suspect in Borno state.
The NDLEA continues to combat drug trafficking, with recent seizures of 57,450 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and exol-5, as well as 4,082 bottles of codeine-based syrup, from a suspect traveling from Onitsha, Anambra state to Abuja along Abaji-Abuja highway on Friday, August 4.
This arrest and the ongoing operations demonstrate the agency’s commitment to tackling drug-related crimes and maintaining the safety and security of the nation.
The trust in Nigerian agencies has been eroded, raising concerns about the possibility of these individuals being released later due to bribery and corruption. Drug dealers often bribe law enforcement officers, leading to their release.
Given this scenario, there is uncertainty about whether these two suspects will remain in custody. In Nigeria, unforeseen events can occur, and the potential for irregularities in the justice system adds to the apprehension.
