Bad! NDLEA Nabs Man Trying To Export Cannabis To China In Garri, Bitter Leaf (Photo )

Less than two weeks after a Nigerian, 38-year-old
Chijioke Obioha, was executed in Singapore for
smuggling 2.6kgs of cannabis into the country,
another 38-year-old man, Augustine Uchenna, has
been arrested by the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency in Lagos for trying to smuggle
10.2kg of cannabis to China, another country that
punishes drug importation with death.

NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said
Uchenna, a safety equipment trader in Lagos, was
nabbed at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport during the outward screening of passengers
on an Ethiopian Airline flight to China.

NDLEA commander at the airport, Ahmadu Garba,
said that the weeds were discovered inside garri,
bitter leaf, bitter cola and other spices, which
Uchenna said he was travelling with.

The suspect said during interrogation that he was
simply not aware that drug trafficking in China was
punishable by death.

He told NDLEA officials, “My friend in China
promised to pay me N600,000 for the cannabis.
This is my first time of smuggling drug,even though
I have been going to China since 2011. The
economic recession affected my business and my
rent is also due.”

Uchenna, an Enugu State indigene said he is married
with three children and was desperate to make ends
meet.

NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.),
said the agency had taken measures to improve
screening for narcotics at the nation’s airports.

He said, “All countries with death penalty for drug
trafficking and source countries are all high risk
destinations. The main objective of drug control is
to promote public health and security.

“I am glad that the arrest was made here thereby
preventing the suspect from facing the death
penalty in China.”