Lagos — There are indications that several youths have been recruited by suspected drug barons to traffic illicit drugs that include cocaine, heroin and Indian hemp within and outside Nigeria with a view to meeting the traditional Christmas and end-of -year demand for the drugs. Several jobless youths and street traders have been arrested on international routes with illicit drugs, revealing that they were recruited by drug barons. One of such suspects, Oledibe Charles Chiagozie, currently in custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was arrested by the agency's operatives with 5.850 kilograms of high grade cocaine with an estimated street value of about N41 million.

Chiagozie, 37, was caught at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos on his way from Brazil with the drugs industrially concealed in his luggage. The suspect was arrested on arrival at the airport on board a Turkish Airline flight at the arrival hall of the MMIA. He claimed to be a 2001 graduate of Fine and Applied Arts at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu who was an artist before dabbling in drug trafficking. He told Weekly Trust: "I am married with five children. I travelled to Brazil on July 14, 2011 with the hope of securing a job. Unfortunately, I could not secure a job. At a point I was living in a church at Sao Paulo. While I was there my wife delivered a set of twins. My desire to see my newborn babies and provide money for the hospital bills led me into drug trafficking."

A set of four Nigerians were also arrested MMIA on their way to Malaysia to sell drugs. Udeh Innocent Chukwuemeka, 36, who allegedly hid 2 kilograms of similar drug in the locally fabricated compartment of his bag during the screening of Qatar Airways flight. Olisah Kelvin Chukwuka, 26, who was caught during the screening of passengers on an Egypt Air flight, allegedly ingested 1.300 kilograms of the drugs while Mgbeajuo Alex Chigozie, 31, who attempted to board an Emirate Airline, swallowed 1.815 kilograms of Methamphetamine. All were headed for Malaysia.

Most of the suspects in the custody of the agency accused of swallowing or putting their consignment of drugs in their anal cavity said the concealments were done in hotels. Tessy Anthony said those that opted to swallow their consignment mostly do so with the aid of soup. She told Weekly Trust: "The drugs in this case are neatly packed in wraps covered with water proofs. The trafficker will be using the draw soup to be swallowing the wraps. Those of us that opted to load ours in our anus did so with the aid of lubricants."

Tessy added: "First, male and female carriers wanting to carry their drugs in their anus must have several rounds of anal sex to open up the place. Some guys are brought to do the deed after lubricating with oil. The anus is drilled until it dilates wide enough to contain the wraps. The carrier strips naked and bends down for another person to help in arranging the wraps of drugs in polythene pouches lubricated with oil."

Confirming the various arrests, Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade said that the agency is prepared to tackle the usual increase in drug trafficking associated with the end of year. He said NDLEA Commanders at the various entry and exit points had been charged to adopt proactive measures to curb drug trafficking as the year comes to an end. He told Weekly Trust that the end is yet to be seen on the fight against illicit drug in the world adding that there is also a sharp increase in the street value of cocaine in Lagos from about N3.5 million per kilogram three months ago to the current price of about N7 million per kilogram.