Another accomplice implicated in the Arik Air cocaine scandal

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday, said it had obtained closed-circuit television footage of how the Arik Air crew member, Ikechukwu Oliver, the main accomplice, who works as a catering loader, smuggled three bags of cocaine among food supplies.

The anti-narcotics agency had also invited a 32-year-old younger brother of the main suspect, Chika Udensi, for questioning over his alleged complicity in the ongoing investigation of 20kg of cocaine seized by the United Kingdom Border Force from his brother, Uwachi Udensi, at the Heathrow Airport.

According to the NDLEA, three vehicles, a Land Rover Sports Utility Vehicle, an Equinox Chevrolet and a Dodge Hemi Magnum, have been seized from Chika Udensi.

Operatives of the NDLEA had stormed the headquarters of Arik Air in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday night, following the arrest of an Arik Air crew member.

The NDLEA agents had also searched Udensi’s latest Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle parked in the airline’s premises.

Udensi was arrested at the London Heathrow Airport shortly after an Arik Air flight W3101, that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, touched down in the UK. Officials of the NDLEA had put the street value of the drug found with the suspect at £350,000 (N105m).

In a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Saturday, the agency said narcotic investigators were still working on evidence gathered on the case so far.
The statement read in part, “Further investigation has shown that Mr. Chika, the main suspect, lives an ostentatious lifestyle far beyond his salary. He is also believed to be involved in laundering illicit proceeds of drugs under the cover of automobile importation.

“The operational tasking order issued by the NDLEA Chairman to its operatives to look inwards into the activities of the agency and other airport workers is an immediate measure to avert acts of compromise calculated to undermine airport security.”
The NDLEA also stated that the management of Arik Air was giving necessary assistance to the agency.

The statement also quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, to have expressed his satisfaction with the success of the investigation and directed investigators to further widen their search for more.

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