NDLEA ARRESTS NOTORIOUS DRUG BARON.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
on Friday said it had arrested a suspected notorious
drug baron, Azubuike Odugwe, over unlawful
importation of 1.025kg of cocaine.
The Agency’s Spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said in a
statement made available to the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the arrest was made during
inward screening of passengers on Emirates airline
flight from Dubai.
It said that Odugwe was found with wraps of powdery
substances that tested positive for cocaine at the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),
Lagos.
“ Odugwe, who is currently on bail over several drug
charges brought against him by the Agency, was found
with wraps of cocaine at the MMIA, Lagos.
“The wraps of cocaine were packed in duty-free
polythene inside his luggage.
“This mode of drug concealment in duty-free bags is
similar to the last drug charge involving him,’’ it said.
The statement also said that the suspected drug
kingpin told investigators during interrogation that he
had made a big mistake.
It said that Odugwe had pleaded not guilty to previous
charges where drugs were not found on him, alleging
that his enemies were behind his trial.
It also said that Ahmadu Garba, an NDLEA commander,
described the arrest as a sign of what to expect in the
future and promised to make the airport difficult for
drug traffickers.
“I am happy with this high profile arrest. It is a good
way to start and sign of better days ahead.
“The suspect travelled to Dubai on Sept. 6 and was
arrested on Sept. 10 on arrival at the Lagos airport,”
Garba said.
Ahmadu Giade, Chairman/Chief Executive of the
NDLEA, was also quoted as saying that the arrest of
Odugwe was rewarding for the country’s fight against
drugs.
“The game is up for the suspect who has been charged
to court for sponsoring several drug couriers.
“This latest arrest is like the icing on the outstanding
charges against him. He claimed to be an importer of
legitimate goods but his source of income had been
exposed.
“We shall diligently prosecute and dispossess him of
illegal drug proceeds,’’ he said.
Giade also assured Nigerians that no drug baron shall
escape the dragnet of justice.
NAN recalls that on May 12, 2010,Odugwe was
arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman at the
Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos, on three count charge
of conspiracy, aiding and unlawful importation of
heroin.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all counts of the
charge and was remanded in prison custody.
Odugwe was nabbed in a follow-up operation to the
arrest of Josephine Olehi who was caught with 3.150kg
of heroin at the Lagos airport on Dec. 29, 2009 on
arrival from Dubai aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight.
He had also been linked with two other cases involving
heroin trafficking. He was arrested for sponsoring one
Anagozie John Kennedy to Pakistan on July 26, 2007
to import 1.296 kilogrammes of substances that tested
positive for heroin.
Similarly, on March 11, 2009, Odugwe was rearrested
after another foiled attempt by him to take delivery of
3kg of heroin from a drug courier, Sodiq Hameed.
The drug was packed in a polythene bag and concealed
inside a duty-free polythene bag similar to the mode of
concealment adopted by Josephine Olehi.
The statement further said investigation conducted by
the Agency then pointed to the accused as the
mastermind of several cases involving unlawful
importation of narcotics into the country, adding that
Odugwe will be charged to court soon.

(NAN)