As investigation into the unlawful importation of 130kg of heroin from Iran at the Tin Can Island Port intensifies, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has placed Nigeria-Brazil route on red alert to counter moves by drug trafficking syndicates. This followed the interception of 17.500kg of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The illicit substance that was imported from Brazil was hidden in plastic pipes, bed sheets and a pair of shoes. 10.500kg was concealed in eighteen (18) plastic pipes allegedly imported by one Ntinulu-Ojulu Michael Papulu Chukwu, 43, aboard Qatar Airways flight. Also 6kg of cocaine concealed in bed sheets was found in the bag of one Ani Emeka Michael, 31, while 1kg was recovered in a pair of shoes belonging to one Isiwele Gabriel Hase, 40.

Several arrests of passengers on the Brazilian route have necessitated the red alert by the NDLEA to cripple illicit drug traffickers.

Five suspected drug traffickers are also undergoing interrogation over their alleged roles to smuggle drugs at the Lagos airport. The 10.500kg of cocaine is the highest single seizure of cocaine made at the airport since January with an estimated street value of 100 million naira.

According to Giade, the Agency will remain at alert to prevent drug barons from using the route for drug trafficking. "We have placed the Nigeria-Brazil route on red alert because it is becoming notorious and we are determined to stop them. Several arrests have been made on the route. The red alert is a counter measure to incapacitate drug cartels".

Similarly, a kilogramme of cocaine concealed inside a pair of shoes was also intercepted same day from Brazil aboard a KLM flight. According to the NDLEA Airport Commander Alhaji Hamza Umar the suspected traffickers that facilitated the importation of the illicit drugs were being interrogated by narcotic investigators.

"The 10.500kg of cocaine was found in the luggage of one Ntinulu-Ojulu Michael Papulu Chukwu, 43 year old while 6kg hidden in bed sheets in the luggage of Ani Emeka Michael, 31 year old. Both of them were nabbed during inward screening of passengers on Qatar Airways flight. 1kg of cocaine hidden inside a pair of shoes was equally found in possession of one Isiwele Gabriel Hase who is 40 years old" Hamza stated.

Unlike on the 20th of April 2010 when 10kg of cocaine imported from Brazil in a Turkish Airways flight was abandoned at the Lagos airport, Ntinulu-Ojulu was nabbed with the bag containing the 10.500kg cocaine on arrival.

The 43 year old suspect who works in Brazil said he was promised 5,000 dollars to deliver the bag of cocaine in Nigeria. "I have been working in Brazil for 2 years but the little money I make is used to settle bills. I met a Nigerian for assistance and he asked me to send the bag to Nigeria for a fee of 5,000 dollars. I agreed to do it because of my financial predicament" he stated.

Isiwele Gabriel, a photographer and a trader concealed one kilogramme of cocaine inside a pair of shoes. He has lived in Brazil for 4years but said that he was unable to afford his rent and other financial responsibilities.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade said that the planned attacks on drug barons will be sustained. He added that the benefits of a drug free society cannot be quantified.

"We are going to sustain our attacks on drug traffickers until they quit the criminal act". Giade also noted that the cases will be properly investigated as the suspects have international links.

Two other suspects Amen Peace, 35, and Agwu Daniel Okafor that ingested 91 wraps of substances suspected to be narcotics have been placed on observation by the anti-narcotic Agency. Amen Peace was travelling with an Italian passport when scanning machine revealed that he had ingested suspected substances. According to Amen who was on his way to Rome in an Alitalia flight, his father is a Liberian while the mother hails from Benin City Edo State. He is a welder in Italy but has been jobless for 3 months.

"My father is a Liberian and my mother is from Edo State. This is my first time of trafficking drugs. I came to Nigeria for a visit and decided to smuggle the drugs to get some money. I have been living in Italy since 2002" he stated. He ingested 36 wraps and was promised 3,000 Euros.

Agu Daniel ingested 55 wraps in anticipation of 2,800 Euros and was arrested during screening of KLM passengers. His final destination was Madrid.

He stated that he requested for financial assistance from an old friend when he was introduced into the criminal trade. I needed some help from my old time friend when I was introduced into the drug trade. I used to sell tiles at Coker in Lagos until my shop was demolished. That was the genesis of my problem. Last year I left Lagos to Aba where I sell clothes but business has been very bad. My late mother will be buried in December and I have no money he stated.