A 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for attempting to smuggle 30.09 kilograms of white heroin into Nigeria.
The drugs, concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs, have an estimated street value of over N3 billion.
The suspect, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, was apprehended on Friday, January 23 upon her arrival on Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following intelligence-led operations.
A subsequent search of her two checked-in bags uncovered 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee containing the narcotics. “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.
During her preliminary interview, the suspect claimed she brought the white heroin consignment under the guise of coming to Nigeria for holidays,” a statement signed by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday.