2 Nigerians held on drugs charges in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—Two Nigerians were arrested in the Philippines on suspicion they recruited locals to act as drug couriers overseas, a government anti-narcotics agency said Wednesday.

The two were arrested in a sting operation on Tuesday in which four small sachets of cocaine were found in their possession, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said in a statement.

Aside from being charged with peddling illegal drugs, Obinna Oliver Okeke and Obi Ezema King will also be investigated for possibly recruiting Filipinos who smuggled drugs abroad, the agency added.

The government has been cracking down on such suspected recruiters following the execution of three Filipino drug mules in China in March.

The execution angered many in this impoverished country where about 10 percent of the population have gone abroad to seek better-paying jobs.

Last month, police arrested a Nigerian, Samuel Egbo, who was allegedly involved in the recruitment of one of the three Filipinos executed in China.