Man previously convicted of cocaine smuggling detained in Nigeria
In Lagos, Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detained 34-year-old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, who had previously been convicted of cocaine smuggling. According to the agency, after serving his sentence, he changed his name and may have again become involved in the illegal drug trade while using a herbal tea business as a cover.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the man was detained on Friday at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, in the Ojo area. The NDLEA said the investigation began after 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in phone chargers were intercepted on July 31. According to the agency, the shipment was intended for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cocaine in chargers
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation identified the suspect after several weeks of intelligence gathering. The agency reported that a search of his residence in Ejigbo found chargers similar to those used to conceal cocaine. According to the NDLEA, internal components were removed from the devices to make room for the drugs.
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The NDLEA also claims that the detainee told investigators about organizing drug shipments in the past and discarded his SIM card when he learned that the latest consignment had been intercepted. These claims by the agency do not mean that a court has established the man’s guilt in the new case.
Previous conviction
According to the NDLEA, in 2011 the man was detained at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after swallowing 900 grams of cocaine and 130 grams of heroin while attempting to fly to Austria. The agency said he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.
After serving his sentence, according to the NDLEA, he changed his name from Dunu Chukwuemere Enoh to Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu. The latest detention was part of the agency’s operations in nine Nigerian states, during which law enforcement reported seizures of cannabis, tramadol and cocaine.
