US Customs and Border Protection officers first grew suspicious of Bola Adebisi after her arrival from Nigeria on March 14, when she claimed she was staying with her brother in the United States but was unable to provide his address, phone number or a physical description.
An agent at Washington Dulles International Airport then found her stomach to be particularly rigid during a routine pat down.
The 52-year-old was taken to a local hospital, where an X-ray detected a large amount of unusual objects in her stomach. And she then began passing pellets, according to the CBP.
After three days, Adebisi passed a total of 180 thumb-sized pellets for a combined weight of 4 pounds, 12 ounces (2,157 grams). The heroin has an approximate street value of about $150,000.
The seizure surpassed the previous record for ingested pellets, held by Yomade Aborishade, 46, of Lagos, Nigeria, who was arrested a year ago after expelling 100 pellets of heroin with a combined weight of a little more than four pounds (1,814 grams).
“The amount of pellets and heroin this woman ingested is incredible, a serious health risk, and very troubling if these numbers become the new normal,” said Christopher Hess, CBP port director for the Port of Washington.
“We’re hopeful that this arrest sends a strong signal that CBP officers are proving to be successful at detecting internal concealment methods, and that we remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners and intercepting this deadly poison before it can reach our communities.”
CBP officers have turned Adebisi over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations agents, and the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case.
“We have seen larger smuggling attempts, but usually concealed inside suitcases, commercial goods or by other concealment methods,” CBP spokesman Steve Sapp told AFP. “This is the largest, in pellet count and weight, by a swallower.”
The record bust eclipses the previous one set in late March of 2011, set by yet another Nigerian, a man this time, who was caught with just over four pounds of heroin pellets ingested.
Naija record breakers lol... Wat a pity
ReplyDeleteThe cronic deperation of our people, who are largely deprived of opportunities to escape poverty and corruption has created these acts of sheer madness of get rich or die trying.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how this people think they can fool everyone especially US Customs. This is how they disgrace their fellow countrymen and deface our already disastrous image across the world in their quest for sudden wealth. Can't they see the Olympics to break records? Instead 3 Nigerians in quick succession are trying to outdo themselves in criminality. This last one even has the audacity to show that what a man can do, a woman can do better. Soon they will blame God, Devil, GEJ, Economy, unemployment etc for their satanic acts. Its soon shameful.....how sad!
ReplyDeleteincredible!Naija have a bad image already so y d ado?dis is small compared 2 d bad image we already have and wat they think about us is worse than how many pellets she swallowed,so lock up young men!
ReplyDeleteQuite unfortunate. Isn't it? It's time people realized there are more honorable ways of making money. What will she tell her family members now? Others should desist from such. After-all we are not taking anything out of this world. Naked we came, naked we shall go. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why dis pple keepon disgracing the name of nigeria in d international world.When will it end?
ReplyDelete