yesterday that it arrested a 65 year-old grandmother, Hassan Fatimat
Abike, also known as Chika Okoye, while attempting to smuggle 1.740kg
of cocaine into London in herbal syrup.
"This is not her fist time of going to London and the drug was
cleverly packed to avoid detection. It was packed in balloons and
inserted in ten plastic containers of herbal syrup," NDLEA said.
The agency added that the suspect was about to board a British Airways
flight when its officers arrested her on Wednesday.
According to the Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, the suspect has
two international passports with numbers A03348648 and A3771781A.
"She was caught during the screening of British Airways passengers to
London. The cocaine found in her possession was packed in balloons and
prepared into plastic bottles. It was also wrapped in black polythene
bags. Each bottle was neatly sealed to avoid suspicion," he said.
Umar said preliminary investigation revealed that she is also known as
Chika Okoye, adding that she speaks Ibo and Yoruba fluently.
"Her father is a native of Abeokuta while her mother hails from
Owerri, Imo State. Hassan Fatimat Abike also known as Chika Okoye has
six children and many grandchildren. She currently lives alone in
Owerri and sells clothes to earn a living. The drug found in her bag
tested positive to cocaine," he added.
In her statement, she claimed that the drugs were given to her by a friend.
"I live in Owerri alone because my children are grown up and now have
their families. I sell clothes to take care of myself. I met an old
friend two weeks ago and during our discussion, I told him I will soon
be travelling to London. He asked me to deliver some herbal medicine
to his sick relative in London. I was only trying to assist an old
friend. I blame myself for everything because I should have turned
down his request. The drug was detected during a search at the
airport," she said.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the agency
is investigating her claim.