The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested one Odili Onyekwere, 47, who attempted to export 270 grammes of cocaine to Madagascar, The Citizen Ng reports.

He was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, during the outward screening of passengers on a Kenyan Airways flight to Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

“This is the first arrest and seizure in the year of a passenger heading to Madagascar from this airport. The suspect, Odili Onyekwere, successfully excreted 25 wraps of cocaine, which he ingested, while under close observation. He is cooperating with our team of investigators and the case will soon be charged to court,” Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, said.

Onyekwere, who was born in Rivers State told interrogators that he went into drug trafficking out of frustration.

“I am married with two children and I sell shoes in Lome, Togo. As a result of the economic downturn, my capital kept depreciating until I lost everything. It was the frustration of not being able to provide for my wife and two children that made me go into smuggling of cocaine. It is my first time. They promised to pay me $1,000, which is over N400,000, going by the present exchange rate,” he said.