Nigerian Man Smuggling Cocaine To China Dies At Airport After Capsules Of Cocaine Burst In His Stomach

A 32-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Obiefuna
Ndulue, lost his life after cocaine capsules burst
in his stomach.
The deceased was said to have slumped at the
departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja and was rushed to a hospital within
the facility where 55 wraps of cocaine, weighing
1.2 kilogrammes were
evacuated from his stomach just before he
died while receiving treatment.
It was learnt that Ndulue, a Lagos-based
trader, who hailed from Anambra State, had
wanted to travel via the Ethiopian airline to China
after he had confessed to an operative of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency that he
had wanted to smuggle the drug to China.
In similar vein, the agency also arrested a 46-
year-old businessman, Bamidele Ibiteye, for
allegedly laundering $2,198,900 (about N440
million).
The money was impounded from Ibiteye at the
local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport,
Lagos, as he wanted to board a flight en route
Abuja.
Ibiteye, who runs a company, ND&C Global
Investment Limited, told investigators that the
money belonged to a medical practitioner in the
state, identified as Thomas Martins.
The suspect, however, declined to reveal the
identity of the person who was to receive the
money.
The NDLEA Commander at the NAIA, Mr. Hamisu
Lawan, confirmed Ndulue’s death.
He said, “The deceased collapsed at the departure
hall. He collapsed after he notified the airline
officials of his intention to cancel his trip. About
55 wraps of substances that tested positive for
cocaine with a total weight of 1.20kg was
evacuated from his stomach.
“The suspect confessed to cocaine ingestion. He
later died while receiving treatment.”
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Mitchell
Ofoyeju, confirmed Ibiteye’s arrest, adding that
the money had been recovered.
He said, “The $2,198,900 was seized from Ibiteye
by anti-narcotic officials on the grounds of
suspected money laundering at the local wing of
the MMA2, Lagos. The suspect was apprehended
on his way to Abuja and he is being investigated
in connection with the case.”
It was gathered that the NDLEA Chairman,
Ahmadu Giade, had directed that the suspect and
the exhibit be transferred to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission for further
investigation.