NDLEA operatives arrest Brazilian man in ‘single largest heroin seizure’ in Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said its operatives have nabbed Ingrid Benevides, a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, with 30.09 kilograms of heroin.
The drugs, valued at more than N3 billion in the street were allegedly hidden in factory-sealed coffee packs at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
A statement by spokesperson of the anti-drug agency, Femi Babafemi, stated that the suspect was intercepted on Friday after arriving in Abuja on a Qatar Airways flight.
Babafemi said Benevides, a private security officer in Brazil, was placed under intelligence-led surveillance before her arrest at the airport.
He said a search of her two checked-in bags uncovered 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian coffee containing white substances that later tested positive for heroin.
“When the coffee bags were opened, rather than containing the beverage, what was found inside were white substances that later tested positive for heroin, weighing a total of 30.09 kilograms, making it the single largest heroin seizure at the Abuja airport,” the statement reads.
“During her preliminary interview, the suspect claimed she brought the white heroin consignment under the guise of coming to Nigeria for holidays.”
