Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) blocked attempts by two grandmothers to unlawfully export narcotic drugs to New York, United States and Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The suspects allegedly ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine during outward screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
60-year-old Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg on her way to the United States.
Grace, 59, also ingested 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grammes on her way to Saudi Arabia.
NDLEA preliminary investigation revealed it is the first time a grandmother of 60 years will ingest a whopping 83 wraps of narcotics.
The second suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.
Her timely arrest saved her from the ordeals of painful and ignoble death in a foreign country.
NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said: “Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York while Amodu Grace was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The cases are under investigation”.
Adebayo, who sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos said drug trafficking was an afterthought.
“I am a divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me when I lost my capital due to family problems.
“It has been my dream to travel to the United States in search of greener pastures.
“My involvement in drug trafficking was an afterthought. My intention when I got my visa last year was to go and work to take care of my needs without being a burden to anyone. Everything changed suddenly when I met an old friend at a party.
“They took care of my travel expenses and gave me $3,000 with a promise to assist me secure a job in the United States.
“It was few hours to my journey that they brought the drugs for me to swallow.
“They said that it was my contribution for the kindness and money spent on my trip but it turned out to be my biggest mistake,” the indigene of Kogi State said.
Amodu told investigators as a Muslim she was glad to travel to Saudi Arabia but her journey terminated at the NDLEA office.
“I was happy when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia but I never knew it will end in my detention.
“I sell fufu (staple food from cassava) to take care of my four children as a widow and this has been very challenging.
“They enticed me with a visit to Saudi Arabia and a handsome reward and I fell for the trick.
“I only swallowed 25 wraps of the drug. Unfortunately I could not get to Saudi Arabia because of my arrest.”
NDLEA chairman Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said it is shocking and shameful for grandmothers to be involved in drug trafficking.
“This move by drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and shameful.
“A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their children and grandchildren is highly regrettable,” he stated.