Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted 24 parcels of cocaine concealed in 12 tyres of lawn mowers imported into the country through the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA by a Brazilian returnee, Okechukwu Francis Amaechi, who had just finished serving his jail term, Ex-Convict for drug trafficking in the South American country.
The 45-year-old ex-convict from Idemili South LGA, Anambra State was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday 7th May upon his arrival from Brazil via Doha onboard Qatar Airline flight QR1433.
Preliminary investigations revealed Okechukwu who was arrested and convicted in Brazil for drug offences completed serving his jail sentence in March 2022, after which he decided to return to Nigeria with three new lawn mowers where he concealed 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.56kg.
Curiously, each parcel concealed in the tyres of the three lawn mowers bears some unique inscriptions, which are believed to be means of identification of the owners of the drug. The two parcels in one of the tyres of the first lawn mower bear “O LORD” and “HAVE MERCY”.
The parcels in one of the tyres of the second mower bears the inscription “IN GOD” and “WE TRUST”, while the third mower has “IJIOMA” and “186.6” inscribed on the two parcels hidden in one of its tyres.
Okechukwu claimed one of his church members gave him the lawn mowers to deliver to his brother in Port Harcourt.
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While commending the officers and men of PHIA, Zamfara, Kogi, Rivers, Kaduna and Kano commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of
NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the war against drug abuse and trafficking is one that must be won.
He therefore charged all commands of the Agency to remain on the offensive against the cartels as they take advocacy messages to communities and schools.