Men of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, foiled attempts by 2 grandmothers
to unlawfully export narcotic drugs to New York, United States and
Medina,
Saudi Arabia.
The women
ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine
during outward screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed Int'l Airport
(MMIA) Lagos.
60yrs old
Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg on her way
to the United States.
59yrs Amodu
Ayisat Grace ingested 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grammes on her way to
Saudi Arabia.
They blamed
their involvement in drug trafficking on financial hardship.
NDLEA
preliminary investigation revealed it is the first time a grandmother of 60
years will ingest a whopping 83 wraps of narcotics.
The second
suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital
punishment.
Her timely
arrest saved her from the ordeals of painful and ignoble death in a foreign
country.
NDLEA
commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said: “Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy
was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York while Amodu
Grace was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to
Medina, Saudi Arabia. The cases are under investigation”.
Mrs. Adebayo,
who sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos said drug trafficking was an
afterthought.
“I am a
divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me
when I lost my capital due to family problems.
“It has been
my dream to travel to the United States in search of greener pastures.
“My
involvement in drug trafficking was an afterthought. My intention when I got my
visa last year was to go and work to take care of my needs without being a
burden to anyone. Everything changed suddenly when I met an old friend at a
party.
“They took
care of my travel expenses and gave me $3,000 with a promise to assist me
secure a job in the United States.
“It was few
hours to my journey that they brought the drugs for me to swallow. They said
that it was my contribution for the kindness and money spent on my trip but it
turned out to be my biggest mistake,” the indigene of Kogi State said.
On her part,
Mrs. Amodu told investigators as a Muslim she was glad to travel to Saudi
Arabia but her journey terminated at the NDLEA office.
“I was happy
when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia but I never knew it will
end in my detention.
“I sell fufu
(staple food from cassava) to take care of my four children as a widow and this
has been very challenging.
“They enticed
me with a visit to Saudi Arabia and a handsome reward and I fell for trick.
“I only
swallowed 25 wraps of the drug. Unfortunately I could not get to Saudi Arabia
because of my arrest.”
NDLEA chairman
Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said it is shocking and shameful for
grandmothers to be involved in drug trafficking.
“This move by
drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and
shameful. A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their
children and grandchildren is highly regrettable,” he stated.
0 Comments