A drug suspect who allegedly swallowed 85 wraps of cocaine is in danger list in an un disclosed hospital in Abuja for failure to excrete some of the ingested substances.

Our correspondent also learnt that the suspects may under go surgical operation to save his life. At press time, medical experts are battling to save his life.

The suspect, Okeke Ferdinand Ekwunife, 36 who worked as a cleaner in London for over ten years was arrested while attempting to board a British Airways flight to London.

He has allegedly excreted about 80 out of the 85 he ingested which made medical experts to intensify medication on him. The suspect was among the over seven suspects, arrested by Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) attached to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

Okeke said he went into drug trafficking as his last resort as has been jobless for some times and could not lay his hand on any thing to feed his family "Although I have asked God for forgiveness, I smuggled drugs for survival. I lost my job, my German wife left me and things were difficult. I swallowed 81 wraps and I have excreted 80 remaining one. They promised to pay me 3,000 dollars out of which I was given 500 pounds.

It was in the process of trying to borrow some money that I ended up is married to a Ferdinand who German told NDLEA officials that he needed money to survive because in this mess. Initially, I was scared because it is my first time. My travel expenses were paid and I was in a hotel for four weeks in Lagos." he stated. Ferdinand hails from Agulu village in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

But NDLEA, acting Airport Commander, Alhaji Idris Bello said the agency had conducted scan to confirm the location of the wrap. According to the commander, if other medical solutions failed, the suspect will be operated upon.

NDLEA has apprehended five other suspected drug traffickers for separately swallowing a total of 410 wraps of powdery narcotic substances.

Daily Champion further gathered that okeke brought the consignment from one of the Arab countries and was attempting to export i to a customer in London when he was nabbed.

Our sources said another four suspects respectively ingested a total of 335 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine with a weight of 5.750kg.

Others apprehended include a cement tycoon Bolanle Adeyanju Moyinoluwa a.k.a. Mama Seye, 45, Salam Adesino Ibiyinka, 46, Benjamin Akonam Nwankwo, 32 and Uka Charles Onuoha,35. The suspects were found to have tested positive to drug ingestion with the aid of the United States donated scanning machine at the airport. Uka Charles ingested 89 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.340kg, Akonam Benjamin ingested 81 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.694kg while others are still under observation.

NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport Alhaji Hamisu Lawan gave the names of the suspects arrested by his command as Udeagha Ume Irukwu, 31 year old ,Lagos based computer dealer that ingested 104 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.750kg, Owele Edwin Okotie, 30 year old labourer in a vegetable farm in Malaga, Spain that swallowed 100 wraps of narcotics weighing 1.6 kg and Nnaka Kingsley, 30 year old labourer in Akala, Spain that swallowed 64 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.150kg. Others are Nwabueze Kalu Ikwa, 44 year old trader that swallowed 67 wraps of cocaine with a weight of 1.250kg and Bonek Boniface, 31 year old labourer in Italy that swallowed 75 wraps of heroin weighing 1.300kg.

The Commander decried the ingestion of drugs as poisonous substances. He warned that they should desist from such unhealthy act because they could die in the process. "Our message to the general public is for them to say no to drug trafficking. Swallowing drugs is dangerous and could lead to death" Hamish warned. Meanwhile, preliminary investigation conducted by the NDLEA had revealed that all suspects swallowed the drugs in Lagos and boarded a flight to Abuja.

Udeagha Ume Irukwu was alleged to have ingested 104 wraps with a weight of 1.750kg was arrested on October 20, 2009. He was to travel in a Lufthansa flight from Abuja to Hamburg in Germany through Frankfurt. The suspect gave reasons he decided to smuggle illicit drugs thus.

. "My house at number 29 Owokoniran Street Mushin was demolished in September, that it was blocking a sewage canal. Since then my wife has gone to the village to stay with her mother. I needed to rent a house and bring my wife and child back, that was how I became involved in drug trafficking. If only I know that I will be caught, I would not have agreed to smuggle the drugs for 3,000 Euros that they promised to pay me. It was my friend in Port-Harcourt that linked me with the people that gave me the drugs in Lagos. He gave them my phone number and they were the ones calling me. I swallowed the drug in Lagos and took flight to Abuja" Udeagha stated.

Another suspect ,Owele Edwin Okolie was arrested on October 15, 2009 at about 9 pm while attempting to board a KLM flight from Abuja to Malaga Spain through Amsterdam. Owele like Udeagha tested positive during screening of passengers and was placed under observation to enable him excrete the wraps of cocaine that he ingested in a bid to circumvent security checks. The suspect who used to work in a vegetable farm said that he smuggled drugs because he was jobless. "I was sacked a year ago due to the economic meltdown. I searched for job but could not find one. My friend in Spain then suggested that I should come to Lagos and collect drugs and that they will pay me 2,000 Euros. I had no option so I accepted the offer. I am from Anambra State and I swallowed 100 wraps. When I was caught, I felt so bad because I knew that it was over for me. This is my first time and I regret ever venturing into drug trafficking" Owele stated.

NDLEA chairman, Alhaji Giade while reacting to the latest development warned prospective drug traffickers of the dangers associated with the ingestion of narcotics. He also assured that the suspect will be given intensive medical care to remove the wrap of cocaine from his stomach. "Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time that besides the damage to the image of our country, drug traffickers also expose themselves to grave medical risk when they ingest narcotics. Drug traffickers must know the implications of drug trafficking and shun the shameful and deadly act. We are however trying our best to expel the remaining wrap of suspected substance from his stomach."

Meanwhile, a cement tycoon, Bolanle Adeyanju Moyinoluwa a.k.a. Mama Seye was also apprehended an Apapa based by NDLEA operatives during screening of passengers on Iberia flight. The suspect who was on her way to Madrid confessed to have ingested 75 wraps of cocaine for an undisclosed fee. "I am ashamed of myself. I am a successful cement dealer with my personal 3 trucks but I sold everything. I am well known at Apapa, Lagos.

I have two children in school, a boy and a girl but I am a divorcee. I just returned from the United States where I went to visit my sister. I feel very bad because I met a young man of about 37 years who introduced me into this business. He said that if I take the drugs there and I am paid I can buy hand bags and lady shoes to sell for the Christmas period and I agreed. What do I now tell my children" she lamented. Madam Bolanle lives at Alagbado, Lagos but hails from Osun State.

Also arrested on same Iberia flight is a 46 year old trader, Salam Adeshino Ibiyinka. NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Michel Ofoyeju said the suspect confessed to have ingested 95 wraps of narcotics on his way to Paris for a fee of 2,000 Euros. In his words, "I do not know the people that gave me the drugs. I live at Bariga, Lagos and I sell shoes. I used to buy my shoes in Ghana, Benin republic and Togo, this is my first time of travelling to Europe. I swallowed the drugs in a guest house, my target was to do some work over there and add the money to the 2,000 Euros. I am married with four children, I have no helper. It is suffering that made me to smuggle the drugs. I blame myself and I regret everything". Salam hails from Odogbolu in Ogun State.

Benjamin Akonam Nwankwo was nabbed on his way to Madrid, Spain during screening of passengers on Iberia flight. He has lived for 5 years in Madrid working as a labourer. Benjamin said that he came to Nigeria to attend the burial ceremony of his friend's father. "I actually came for a burial ceremony at Enugu but I was convinced to deliver the drugs that I will be paid 2,800 Euros. I met the man that introduced me to the drug trade in a drinking bar at Mile 2 Lagos. This is my first time and I thought I will be lucky. If I confesses."