Nigeria: Cocaine-stuffed roasted chicken found
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - The roasted chickens had an unusual stuffing - $150,000 worth of cocaine, according to Nigerian police.
A Nigerian mechanic who struggled in Brazil for more than six years had hoped the drugs would buy him a life of luxury in his native land, Nigerian authorities said Monday.
"This was like a retirement plan for him," said Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The accused was arrested over the weekend at the airport in Lagos after he came in from Sao Paulo with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of cocaine, Ofoyeju said. Photos from the agency showed egg-shaped packages wrapped in gold aluminum foil and tucked into the browned chickens.
The suspect, Vincent Chegini Chinweuwa, could not immediately be reached for comment as he remained in custody Monday.
Nigeria is a major transit point for drugs coming from Latin America and going to Europe or the United States but recent security improvements are cutting into that dubious distinction.
After a Nigerian man allegedly attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner in 2009, Nigeria started installing airport scanners and sought training for its agents. Ofoyeju says the scanners helped authorities identify more than 100 drug carriers last year, leading to the seizure of about 410 kilograms (904 pounds) of cocaine, among other illicit drugs.
Authorities have found drugs sandwiched inside the fabric of suitcases, sewn into wigs worn by female passengers, tucked into underwear or hidden in phone chargers and even in a stethoscope, Ofoyeju said.
"The list is endless," he said.
The weekend seizure may even redeem the agency's image after the controversial arrest last year of a popular Nigerian comedian known as Baba Suwe. The agency held him for more than three weeks to monitor his bowel movements after a scanner detected what investigators believed to be drugs - but no drugs were ever found.
His ordeal turned the comedian's life into a potty-humor joke. The agency was later ordered to pay him $165,000 in damages - a court decision it is appealing.
A Nigerian mechanic who struggled in Brazil for more than six years had hoped the drugs would buy him a life of luxury in his native land, Nigerian authorities said Monday.
"This was like a retirement plan for him," said Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The accused was arrested over the weekend at the airport in Lagos after he came in from Sao Paulo with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of cocaine, Ofoyeju said. Photos from the agency showed egg-shaped packages wrapped in gold aluminum foil and tucked into the browned chickens.
The suspect, Vincent Chegini Chinweuwa, could not immediately be reached for comment as he remained in custody Monday.
Nigeria is a major transit point for drugs coming from Latin America and going to Europe or the United States but recent security improvements are cutting into that dubious distinction.
After a Nigerian man allegedly attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner in 2009, Nigeria started installing airport scanners and sought training for its agents. Ofoyeju says the scanners helped authorities identify more than 100 drug carriers last year, leading to the seizure of about 410 kilograms (904 pounds) of cocaine, among other illicit drugs.
Authorities have found drugs sandwiched inside the fabric of suitcases, sewn into wigs worn by female passengers, tucked into underwear or hidden in phone chargers and even in a stethoscope, Ofoyeju said.
"The list is endless," he said.
The weekend seizure may even redeem the agency's image after the controversial arrest last year of a popular Nigerian comedian known as Baba Suwe. The agency held him for more than three weeks to monitor his bowel movements after a scanner detected what investigators believed to be drugs - but no drugs were ever found.
His ordeal turned the comedian's life into a potty-humor joke. The agency was later ordered to pay him $165,000 in damages - a court decision it is appealing.
What a bunch of dicks.... stuffing a bunch of cocks full of great and pure Columbine bam bam.
Why would they need to hold that comedian for three weeks to monitor his bowel movements? Shouldn't they need a max of three days? Or just feed him some prunes and wait one day?
Tired?
Â
Have some Chicken !
What, I say what's the big idea stuffing all that cocaine in my caboose?
 @Mumblix Grumph Good one.Â
I got this e-mail today;
Â
"Hello good sir friend, I am Oinggo Boingo, a solicitor with the Nigerian Poultry Commission. Your name was referred by a mutual friend that does wish to be the anonymous, you agree? The Assistant Director to the Executive Deputy Minister of Poultry met an untimely death in an unfortunate paddle boat incident. I have been selected to distribute his chicken collections to worthy parties and I have selected you as someone I can trust. This chicken will be delivered to you at International Arrival Freight at Seattle Airport upon specific time. Please take immediately to specified friend later and you will be rewarded with $10,000 for your efforts."
Â
                                                               Your friend,
                                                               Oinggo Boingo
                                                               Onleeaman, Nigeria
Actually I think that was Onleealad, Nigeria...
@Sid Vishess I get nigerian scam emails occasionally; I play along with them and make them think I am flying out there to deliver cash in person or something. I'll give them fake account info, fake ssn, fake airline flights to pick me up at the airport from. The list goes on, its too much fun.
 @northwestsurfer  @Sid Exxxxccellent!
Sounds like a Nigerian delicacy. Now you know where the money form those Nigerian e-mail scams go towards. ;)
Authorities thought something was amiss when they detected THIRTEEN herbs and "spices."