What heroin has joined
As others were making new year resolutions to turn away from their evil ways. shun bad habits and crime, and to be more useful to the society and their creator in 2011, an elderly couple ended the just expired year on an inglorious note.
Mr. Owolabi Ganiyu Amoo, a 60-year-old printer, and his 57-year-old wife, Omowunmi, ended 2010 on a shameful note after they were nabbed by narcotic agents in Lagos.
On Friday, December 31,2010, when their neighbours, friends and relatives were wishing one another a happy new year and congratulating one another for successfully transiting from one year to the next, Amoo and his wife were allegedly busy at the cells of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), excreting scores of wraps of heroin. By the time they were done, 160 wraps of the banned substance weighing 2.280 kilogrammes had been excreted by the couple at the airport.
Daily Sun learnt that each of them ingested 80 wraps, weighing 1.140kg.
The long arm of the law caught up with them at the Murtala Mohammed Airport. Ikeja, Lagos, on December 31, 2010, after they tested positive to hard drugs.
The NDLEA was said to be closing its arrests and seizure diary for the year 2010 when the couple walked into its net.
The printer, also known as Johnson Bamiduro, and his wife, a trader, were at the boarding gate during routine checks on Delta Airline passengers to the United States when nemesis caught up with them.
Spokesman for the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said husband and wife confessed that they ingested the drugs by the roadside at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. From there, they had allegedly proceeded directly to the International airport.
According to him, preliminary investigation showed that the suspects hid under the cover of husband and wife to smuggle narcotics. He explained that the agency was making efforts to ascertain their level of involvement and their collaborators.
The suspects were alleged to have been given an initial payment of 2,000 dollars each, and had allegedly been hopeful of getting additional 8.000 dollars each if they had succeeded in delivering the drugs in New York, their final destination.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who was excited about the last minute catch, commended the efforts of the officers, adding that the arrest was an indication that his men were on top of the situation.
“The agency’s preparedness to adequately curb drug trafficking is non-negotiable,” Giade said.
He expressed disappointment at the involvement of the couple in drug trafficking, especially as they were not a young couple. He affirmed that the law would take its course.
“We shall remain resolute on our mission of extra-vigilance at all times,” said the NDLEA boss. “The suspects wanted to capitalize on the end-of-the-year rush to traffic drugs. Wishing our officers a prosperous new year will not stop them from discharging their duties professionally. The task of drug control is vital to national security and not even the aged or the newlywed will make us lose concentration and had allegedly been hopeful of getting with additional 8,000 dollars each if they had succeeded in delivering the drugs in New York, their final destination.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who was excited about the last minute catch, commended the efforts of the officers, adding that, the arrest was an indication that his men were on top of the situation.
The agency’s preparedness to adequately curb drug trafficking is non-negotiable,” Giade said.
He expressed disappointment at the involvement of the couple in drug trafficking, especially as they were not a young couple. He affirmed that the law would take its course.
“We shall remain resolute on our mission of extra-vigilance at all times,” said the NDLEA boss. “The suspects wanted to capitalize on the end-of-the-year rush to traffic drugs. Wishing our officers a prosperous new year will not stop them from discharging their duties professionally. The task of drug control is vital to national security and not even the aged or the newlywed will make us lose concentration.
The couple from Kwara State claimed they were in a financial mess. They attributed their involvement in drugs to their current financial crisis, even as they pleaded for forgiveness.
“I am a printer,” he said. “It was a young man I met in a cyber cafe that introduced me into drug business since 2009. I have two wives. My second wife, who was arrested with me, is my business partner. We deal in drugs together. I voluntarily agreed to smuggle drugs because of my financial problems. I need money for school fees, rent and feeding. I started the drug business in 2009.1 feel sad and regret my involvement in drug trafficking. The excitement of 10,000 dollars per trip was irresistible. I was optimistic that travelling as husband and wife would not attract the attention of security operatives.”
His wife also admitted that she was drug business with her husband. The
grand mother said: “I was frustrated after my first husband died, but
