A 34-year-old commercial bus driver, Edwin Ozoani, has died after a wrap of cocaine ruptured in his stomach.
According to the Head, Public Affairs of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the deceased returned from Brazil aboard a South African Airline flight, tested positive to drug ingestion during screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and was placed under observation.
“He excreted 10 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 180 grammes. While still under observation, he complained of stomach pain and was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died.
“A post-mortem examination showed that the death was due to one of the wraps of cocaine he ingested that ruptured in his stomach,” Ofoyeju said.
In his reaction to the death of the suspect, the Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, called for stiffer penalties for drug trafficking.
Giade said, “Until we get the penalty right, drug trafficking will remain attractive. Every case of drug trafficking involving drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is worth several millions of naira. We must therefore wield the big stick against offenders to serve as deterrent. I’m optimistic that adherence to stringent bail conditions and minimum of 15 years jail term will turn the tide of events.
“This death is sad and painful. The deceased would have been alive to face trial and ultimately given opportunity to learn from his mistakes. I urge members of the public to shun drug trafficking and make quality choices that will enable them to maximise their destinies.”
According to Ofoyeju, during preliminary investigations, Ozoani said he travelled to Brazil on March 3, 2012 in search of a better job, but was lured into the drug trade after he suffered harsh conditions, due to language barrier and his inability to obtain a work permit.