The
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday, said it had obtained
closed-circuit television footage of how the Arik Air crew member, Ikechukwu
Oliver, the main accomplice, who works as a catering loader, smuggled three
bags of cocaine among food supplies.
The
anti-narcotics agency had also invited a 32-year-old younger brother of the
main suspect, Chika Udensi, for questioning over his alleged complicity in the
ongoing investigation of 20kg of cocaine seized by the United Kingdom Border
Force from his brother, Uwachi Udensi, at the Heathrow Airport.
According
to the NDLEA, three vehicles, a Land Rover Sports Utility Vehicle, an Equinox
Chevrolet and a Dodge Hemi Magnum, have been seized from the main suspect.
Operatives
of the NDLEA had stormed the headquarters of Arik Air in Ikeja, Lagos, on
Tuesday night, following the arrest of an Arik Air crew member.
The
NDLEA agents had also searched Udensi’s latest Range Rover Sports Utility
Vehicle parked in the airline’s premises.
Udensi
was arrested at the London Heathrow Airport shortly after an Arik Air flight
W3101, that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, touched
down in the UK.
Officials
of the NDLEA had put the street value of the drug found with the suspect at
£350,000 (N105m).
In
a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, on
Saturday, the agency said narcotic investigators were still working on evidence
gathered on the case so far.
The
statement read in part, “Further investigation has shown that Mr. Chika, the
main suspect, lives an ostentatious lifestyle far beyond his salary. He is also
believed to be involved in laundering illicit proceeds of drugs under the cover
of automobile importation.
“The
operational tasking order issued by the NDLEA Chairman to its operatives to
look inwards into the activities of the agency and other airport workers is an
immediate measure to avert acts of compromise calculated to undermine airport
security.”
The
NDLEA also stated that the management of Arik Air was giving necessary
assistance to the agency.
The
statement also quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade,
to have expressed his satisfaction with the success of the investigation and
directed investigators to further widen their search for more.
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