Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, made an emergency landing in Lagos at the weekend due to the deteriorating health condition of a cocaine trafficker.
Screening by anti-narcotic officials found four passengers, who are currently under interrogation, positive for drug ingestion.
One of the suspects in a critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency said on Saturday.
The Head, Public Affairs Department of the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, quoted the Commander, NDLEA, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, as saying the Emirates flight left Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Dubai but was forced to come to Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board who ingested cocaine.
He said, “A passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three recurrent seizures, thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos. Upon arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion. They are Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the suspects are under observation.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.), said the suspect was responding to treatment, while calling for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking.
Abdallah said the agency needed the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking organisations.