NDLEA arrests Hairdresser with Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian- based- hairdresser, Juliet Nnaji, for drug trafficking.The suspect, however, said that it was greed and desperation that pushed her into the illicit business.Explaining her ordeal  in Lagos, Juliet said: “I have been working as a hair stylist in Brazil where I reside for the past two years. I was approached to smuggle co­caine to Nigeria and I accepted because of the money involved.“The drug was prepared inside bras­sieres and given to me to put on. I did not know how it was packaged. My role was to smuggle the drug to Nigeria and collect the sum of one million naira”.The 30-year-old hair stylist said she was desperate to solve some pressing prob­lems including furthering her education.”But I think I was greedy because I would have solved most of my needs through savings from my salary,” she la­mented.The sus­pect was apprehended at Murtala Mu­hammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during the inward screening of passengers on a South African Airways flight.However, NDLEA Spokesman, Mitch­ell Ofoyeju, disclosed that the substance tested positive for cocaine.He explained that officials of NDLEA discovered that the brassiere the suspect was wearing were laden with a powdery substance which tested positive for co­caine with a gross weight of 535 grams.The NDLEA in a statement said: “A 30 lady by name Nnaji Juliet Ijeoma was ar­rested on her way from Brazil following the discovery of 535 grams of cocaine hidden inside her brassieres. The incident is being investigated and she will soon be charged to court.“The Enugu State born hair stylist and a Diploma holder in Mass Communication smuggled the drugs because she needed money.”The NDLEA Chief Executive, Col. Mu­hammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), how­ever, assured members of the public that his agency is determined to counter the criminal plans of drug cartels.“It is obvious that drug traffickers are getting desperate, but we are prepared to counter their operations through superior intelligence. The discovery of the drug was a big surprise to the suspect because she felt her mode of concealment was full proof. l want drug traffickers to note that no matter how smart they conceal their drugs, we shall detect them”