Widower, divorcee heading for S’Arabia arrested at Lagos airport with cocaine

Two Saudi Arabia-bound pilgrims, Ariyibi Olaseinde and Tunrayo Akanbi, have been arrested for attempting to smuggle 14.4kg of cocaine in fabrics.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stated that the duo, who were going for the lesser hajj, were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on April 20.

“A widower, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde, and a divorcee, Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo, who were going for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia, have been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA.

“The duo were arrested in an attempt to export 14.4 kg of cocaine concealed in lace and Ankara fabrics,” a statement the spokesman for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said.

The statement said Ariyibi, a widower, was arrested at the screening point of the airport with four sets of white lace which tested positive to cocaine.

“When his carry-on bag was checked, four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 11.50kg were discovered,” it added.

Ariyibi, who is also an advertising practitioner, is expected to be paid N1.8m upon the successful delivery of the illicit drug in Medina.

Babafemi said, “The suspect, who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner, said his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practise the process.”

Also, Akanbi, a clothes hawker, was arrested on April 19 with 2.90kg of cocaine concealed in six sheets of Ankara fabrics going to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“NDLEA officers at Terminal 2 of the airport arrested Silifat Akanbi with 2.90kg of cocaine during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.

“A search of her hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.90kg concealed in Ankara fabrics.

“Based on the information in her statement, a follow up operation revealed that the person who recruited her is one Alhaji Adebayo Wasiu, the Managing Birector of B&T Travel Agency, who was also arrested by the agency.”