A Brazil-returnee ex-convict, Okechukwu Francis Amaechi, has been arrested with 24 parcels of cocaine by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The 24 parcels of cocaine were concealed in 12 tyres of lawnmowers imported into the country through the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA).
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Amaechi was said to have just finished serving a jail term for drug trafficking in the South American country.
Disclosing the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the 45-year-old ex-convict from Idemili South Local Government Area (LGA) Anambra State was intercepted at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday May 7, 2022 upon his arrival from Brazil via Doha onboard Qatar Airline flight QR1433.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that 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 lawnmowers where he concealed 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.56kg.
“Curiously, each parcel concealed in the tyres of the three lawnmowers 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 lawnmower 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,” he said.
Babafemi added that Amaechi claimed one of his church members gave him the lawnmowers to deliver to his brother in Port Harcourt.
While commending the officers and men of PHIA, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the war against drug abuse and trafficking 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.
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