In a harrowing near-death experience, a 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone extensive surgery an exploratory laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine that had become lodged in his stomach.
This surgery occurred seven days after he ingested an illegal substance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He was promptly subjected to a body scan, which revealed the presence of illicit drugs within his system.
Subsequently, he was taken into NDLEA custody for excretion observation.
The spokesperson for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, stated that the investigation revealed Igbokwe who claims to be involved in the cloth business in the Arena area of Oshodi departed Lagos on January 22.
He ingested 81 wraps of cocaine the following day, January 23, before boarding the flight to Beirut, Lebanon, to deliver illicit consignment for a fee of $3,000.
However, although he attempted to conceal his actions, the consequences were severe; this incident highlights the risks associated with drug trafficking.
“Upon his arrival in Beirut, he said he was refused entry because he had less than $2,000, the amount required to grant him entry. He was then deported to Addis Ababa where he attempted excreting the illicit drugs but could not. He thereafter proceeded to Lagos on Saturday 25th January with the consignment in his bowel.
He was however arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers on 26th January.
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After five days under excretion observation, he could only expel 24 pellets following initial medical intervention at the Agency’s medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja.
With the clock ticking for him and the complication of other underlying medical conditions, the suspect was eventually admitted to the tertiary facility where he had to undergo exploratory laparotomy to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine stuck in his stomach after his wife and brother endorsed the necessary consent forms on Thursday 30th January.“
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