The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a Lagos woman who is suspected to be drug baroness wanted in connection with cocaine deal.
Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya, the suspect, who is also known as Arike Fumilola Ogundipe, purportedly involved in trafficking about 1.595kg of cocaine from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Saudi Arabia in February, this year.
According to the statement by the Lagos commander, NDLEA has begun investigation into Ogbuaya following the arrest of one Odeyemi Omolara Morayo, also recognised as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, for drug smugglling. The result of investigation launched on Morayo’s case led to Ogbuaya’s revelation.
He stated that the NDLEA later invited the Lagos socialite in for interrogation but all to no avail. NDLEA officers then launched a search into her Lagos home, but the suspected drug trafficker was not available.
He said: “The agency is therefore investigating several landed properties worth several billions of naira traced to Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Arike Fumilola Ogundipe in Lagos, Ogun and Osun States.
“The assets include Arike Plaza, some plots of land, and buildings in strategic locations. The Lagos socialite, who is a distributor of alcoholic drinks, is needed by the NDLEA in an ongoing investigation. She hails from Ilesa, Osun State.”
Happy with the stage which the investigation has reached on the ongoing incident, the NDLEA Chief Executive, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah has sworn to follow the case to a reasonable end and to trace all illegal drug proceeds.
The NDLEA Chief Executive said: "The agency is building capacity for elaborate investigation and this is a test case of pressing beyond a drug mule to the financiers of drug trafficking. We are determined to dislodge drug trafficking cartels and also trace their ill-gotten wealth which must be forfeited to the federal government.”
He asked members of the public with any linking information to the location of Ogbuaya to call the attention of the closes NDLEA office to them.
Abdullah said that asset forfeiture was a vital obligation in the NDLEA Act and guaranteed that no stone would be left unturned in the fight for the total breakdown of drug traffickers.
Recall that Odeyemi Omolara Morayo, (57), a grandmother and textile dealer, at the popular Balogun market, was arrested in connection with cocaine trafficking to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Omolara, who prepared her for journey as if she was really going on a pilgrimage to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, only to be caught with narcotic content in her luggage.
According to the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the two parcels of white powdery substance that were tested positive for cocaine were carefully hidden inside her baggage.
He said: "a female passenger, Odeyemi Omolara Morayo with a valid Egypt air ticket from Lagos to Saudi Arabia had been arrested with 1.595kg of cocaine.
“The cocaine which was concealed in a false bottom of her bag was discovered during routine check on passengers at the departure hall.
“We had to cut the bag open to recover the cocaine because of the way it was neatly concealed. She was immediately arrested and the case is currently under investigation.”
The suspect Omolara in her statement, said that her friend and also her customer was the one that lured her into drug trafficking.
Omolara who hails from Ogun State, said: "I am a textile merchant at Balogun market, Lagos. I have two children and my daughter is married with children. Recently, I told my friend that I loved to go on pilgrimage this year and she promised to sponsor my trip.
“That was how she collected my international passport, processed my travel documents and bought return ticket on Egypt airline.
“The only favour she requested from me was that I should take a bag to Saudi. She also told me that somebody will collect the bag from me at Jeddah. It was an empty bag so I kept my personal effects inside it.
“On getting to the airport, officers discovered cocaine inside the bag during search and I was arrested"
In his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah described the suspect's action as condemnable.
The NDLEA Boss said: "Smuggling cocaine to Saudi Arabia under any guise is condemnable. It is good that she was arrested here because drug trafficking attracts capital punishment in Saudi.
“Apart from saving her from execution in Saudi, the prompt arrest also protected our country from disrepute.
“The Agency will not relent in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.”
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