A 36-year-old lady, Chioma Afam, who allegedly uses multiple identities and wears a hijab to evade security scrutiny, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), in Benue State.
She was arrested along with her partner, Peace Chidinma Caleb, 22, for trying to smuggle a total of 296,000 tablets of Diazepam and Exol-5 from Onitsha, Anambra state to Gombe State.
According to an issued statement by NDLEAs spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Chioma, who uses multiple names such as Amina, Uzoamaka and Ifunaya to cover her criminal activities, was arrested on Saturday 17th July, along with the 22-yr-old Peace Chidinma Caleb, who also wears a hijab as a cover for her nefarious activities, during routine checks and profiling of inward vehicles into Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Their vehicle, which reportedly was coming from Onitsha, Anambra State was intercepted along Makurdi Alliade road while heading to Gombe State via Makurdi.
A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of 43 kilogrammes of the illicit substances, both weighing 76 kilograms, with a total of 296,000 tablets packed in four large Ghana must go bags.
Curiously, the two interstate drug traffickers have rebuffed efforts to take pictures with the exhibits without wearing their hijab.
Reacting to the seizure and arrest, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended the commanders, officers and men of the Benue and Ondo State Commands of the Agency for their efforts to ensure that no illicit substance is allowed to pass through their areas of responsibility under whatever guise or cover to destroy the lives of innocent Nigerians in other parts of the country.
While wishing them and their colleagues in other Commands across Nigeria a happy Sallah celebration, he charged them to remain vigilant at all times.
For us in NDLEA, a kilogramme of illicit drug seized by our gallant and courageous officers across the country is a kilogramme less from what is available on the streets and in our communities, and that is why well continue to encourage all our officers and men to continue to give their best in our pursuit of the mandate President Muhammadu Buhari has given us, the NDLEA boss stated on Wednesday in Abuja.
