60 Year Old Grandma Nabbed With Heroin

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 60-year old grandmother with 140 wraps of heroin concealed in her stomach. The prohibited drug weighed 825 grammes.

The suspect, Mrs. Abimbola Remi Adebola, was apprehended at the departure lounge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to board a Delta Airlines flight to the U.S. on 2 April 2010.

NDLEA in a statement this morning by its Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, said that the suspect admitted to have engaged in the illicit trade as a result of hardship. She claimed that her Abuja shop was demolished by the FCT minister.

“In fact, I was a laughing stock because I lost everything. My problem started in 2005 when my shop at Ladoke Akintola and my house at Chika in Abuja were demolished. I was also duped 2.8 million naira by swindlers that promised to sell a low cost house to me in 2006. Even my son that graduated and completed youth service since 2006 is still searching for job. In 2007, I could no longer afford my rent in Abuja and I was ejected. All these forced me into drug trafficking because there was no one to help. I swallowed 140 wraps of heroin in a hotel in Lagos and was given 1,000 dollar part payment. I would have been given a balance of 4,000 dollars on successful delivery,” Abimbola stated. She hails from Illesha in Osun State and has three children, two boys and a girl and her eldest son is 35 years.

Chief Executive of NDLEA Ahmadu Giade, described the action of Mrs. Abimbola Remi Adebola as ‘shameful and disgraceful’. He reiterated his determination to stop illicit drug syndicates from using Nigeria as a transit country. Giade said that all the suspects will be charged to court in accordance with the NDLEA Act.

“As we go after members of drug cartels no accomplice will be spared, the age notwithstanding. Our target is to frustrate drug barons through prompt interception of their drugs as well as diligent prosecution of accused persons,” the NDLEA boss stressed.

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, said that investigation has since commenced into the arrests and promised to bring all the culprits to book.

However, preliminary investigation has revealed that members of the syndicates use ladies in recruiting drug mules. Hamza, therefore, urged members of the public to report any person suspected to be working for drug barons to the nearest NDLEA office.

NDLEA also arrested two other suspects with prohibited drugs. The suspect include 37 years old national of Benin Republic Yessoufou Idrissou and 30 years old trader Umeojiaku Charity Nneka.