Teenager jailed for 18 months

“I beg you, my Lord, have mercy on me. I don’t know how the drug entered into my bag. I am a medical student, my educational career is destroyed.”

“I don’t have anybody here, my people are in Pakistan.” The words of 19 year old Pakistani, Iftikhar Arslan, who was arrested by operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

Arslan was arrested at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos state, while attempting to smuggle 25.4 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria.

Following his plea, Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, sentenced him to 18 months in prison, adding that it will run from April 5, 2014, the date when the accused was arrested.