The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it  has foiled attempts by two women to export narcotic drugs to New York and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

The suspects allegedly ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine during the outward screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The suspects blamed their involvement in drug trafficking on financial hardship, the NDLEA said in a statement on Saturday.

The anti-narcotics agency said its preliminary investigation revealed that this was the first time a 60-year-old woman would ingest 83 wraps of narcotics.

“In addition, the second suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. Her timely arrest at the Lagos airport has saved her from the ordeals of painful and ignoble death in a foreign country,” the agency added.

Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, gave the names of the suspected drug traffickers as Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy, 60, found to have ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg on her way to the United States and Amodu Ayisat Grace, 59, that ingested 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grammes on her way to Saudi Arabia. Mrs. Adebayo sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos.

“Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York while Amodu Ayisat Grace was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The cases are under investigation,” said Mr. Garba.