Two suspected drug dealers arrested at Entebbe airport

WAKISO - Aviation Police and sister security agencies have arrested two suspected drug dealers, who were set to deliver narcotic drugs to Cameroon and India, through Entebbe airport.

It is alleged that on August 28, at about 14:00 hours at NAS Export bonds at Entebbe International Airport in Wakiso District, a one Azaria Mugabi of Sky Net Worldwide Express Courier Company took cargo for export under Master Airway to the Xray machine for security screening.

"In the process of screening, Police Anti-Narcotics officers intercepted two packages each containing cream powdered substances suspected to be narcotic drugs concealed in their false bottoms," revealed Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango.

According to Onyango, the shippers for the packages respectively were Lydia Nannono and Juliet Nakawooya according to the documents recovered.

"Mugabi was tasked to produce the shippers and he led Police to Nannono. Upon interrogation, Nannono revealed that the package was given to her by a Nigerian national called Rufus Osita Okafor, who stays at Kitende in Kajjansi, Wakiso District," Onyango explained in a statement.

Subsequently, Nannono led Aviation Police to the home of Okafor and he was arrested. The shipment by Nannono was destined for Cameroon, according to Onyango.

It was found to contain about 306 grams of cream granular substance suspected to be heroin, according to preliminary tests conducted.

Onyango said the package which was being shipped by another suspect, who is on the run, was destined for India.

The shipment of drugs was being done at a time when Entebbe airport is still closed to passengers, save for a few like Ugandans returning from abroad and those travelling to their countries, who travel on special permission. It is only cargo planes that are allowed to use the airport.

"It was found to contain four smaller boxes each containing cream powdered substance suspected to be heroin concealed in the false bottom of these boxes with gross weight of 525 grams," he added.

When a search was conducted in the house of Okafor, Onyango said they recovered several items including; 10 packages of suspected methamphetamine measuring 939 grams and 485 tablets of suspected MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly) measuring 113 grams.

Police also recovered 23 small sackets of suspected methamphetamine measuring 20 grams, one pallet of suspected methamphetamine measuring 12 grams, and some tablets mixed with powder substance suspected to be Ecstasy measuring 16 grams.

They also found other mixtures of powdered substance suspected to be Ecstasy measuring 65 grams, and money in different currencies including $9,500, sh98,000, 700 Nigerian Naira, and 8360 Indian Ruppees.

The two suspects in custody are; Nannono and Okafor, and they are being detained at Aviation Police in Entebbe on charges of being in possession of narcotics and trafficking in narcotics.

Three passports in the name of OKafor numbers; AO9389943, AO428682A and AO0202772, were also recovered. Another passport number AO 5547585 in the name of Jamal Lucky Ejike, which is expired, was also retrieved. The suspects are likely to appear in court this week.