The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has announced the arrest of a 31-year-old South African, Sipho Mitshali and two Nigerians at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,NAIA, Abuja, for attempting to export 18.2kgs of drugs valued at N163 million.

The acting chairman and chief executive officer of the agency, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, in a statement issued on Wednesday, assured that the agency would continue to check drug cartels, adding that efforts were ongoing to consolidate on operational gains made by the agency.

According to the statement, “The NDLEA is working hard towards making the country impenetrable to drug barons. We are also tightening the noose on drug trafficking syndicates to sustain the gains recorded in arrests of drug barons and seizure of drugs.

“There is a systematic plan of action to dislodge drug syndicates and ultimately eradicate illicit drugs from our society.

“The South African, Mitshali, was found with 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of Methamphetamine on his way to Johannesburg.

“The two Nigerians, Ifeagwu Osita and Obiabumuo Augustine Ikechukwu were arrested for attempting to smuggle 4.7kg and 1.5kg of cocaine,” the statement added, calling for support from Nigerians against drug barons, described as ‘enemies of the society.”

The statement added that one of the suspects, Osita, revealed that he smuggled drugs to save his sick daughter.

“I am a businessman living at Okota, Lagos. I am married and have three children. My daughter has been sick and I have spent so much money on her bills yet there is no sign of improvement.

“This affected my business and forced me into drug trafficking. I was desperate to save my daughter from pain and death,” Osita was quoted as saying.

The NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, said that the three suspects were under investigation.

“The South African, Sipho Mitshali, was caught smuggling 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of methamphetamine to South Africa through Addis Ababa. Ifeagwu Osita imported 263 pellets of cocaine weighing 4.7kg from Dubai while Obiabumuo Augustine Ikechukwu was apprehended while attempting to export 1.5kg of cocaine to Switzerland through Frankfurt. The cases are being investigated,” Lawan confirmed.

“The arrest of Sipho Mitshali who is a Zulu by tribe from Lehae, Lenasia, a suburb of Johannesburg, with Ephedrine and Methamphetamine to South Africa further validates the growing demand of Ephedrine and Methamphetamine in South Africa,” he added.

Lawan recalled that the NDLEA recently nabbed a suspected drug baron, one Tochukwu Harris Ubah with 310kgs of ephedrine and 266kg of methamphetamine, valued at N4.6 billion, hidden inside noodles, cereals and palm oil being smuggled to South Africa.