NDLEA intercepts over N5bn drugs, arrests Italy-bound businessman with cocaine

Crime Diary

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) —NDLEA intercepts over N5bn drugs, arrests Italy-bound businessman with cocaine LAGOS (NPA) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted drug consignments worth more than N5 billion, including Loud, codeine-based cough syrup and cocaine, in separate operations across Lagos and Rivers.

The agency also destroyed 20,234kg of skunk in an Osun cannabis farm and recovered methamphetamine, opioids and other illicit drugs in operations across several states.

The agency, in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, Oct. 4, said the 38-year-old suspect was arrested on Sept. 27 at the joint screening point, Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport, ahead of his Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.

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A thorough search by NDLEA operatives led to the recovery of 16 parcels of a white powdery substance hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps of the same substance concealed in the railings of four travelling bags.

The substances tested positive for cocaine, with a combined weight of 4.80kg.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly told operatives that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was meant to be delivered to his partner in Italy.

He said he raised the money from compensation paid to him following an injury sustained at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne seaports have intercepted container consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup worth more than N5 billion, following months of intelligence gathering and tracking of the shipments from their ports of origin.

At the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.

A search of one of the containers on Saturday, Oct. 3, led to the recovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg, with a street value of N372 million. The consignment was concealed in two refrigerators and two cartons.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers placed on NDLEA watchlist based on processed intelligence were subjected to joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.

The exercise led to the discovery of 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg, hidden in a travelling bag and three of five vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra — shipped in one of the containers.

The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.

The agency said the container had been shipped from India to Saudi Arabia, where details of its origin were allegedly deleted to avoid detection.

The codeine and Loud consignments seized at the Onne Port had a combined street value of N833.2 million, according to the NDLEA.

At the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Sept. 29 conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada, in collaboration with Customs and other stakeholders.

The operation led to the recovery of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg and valued at more than N3.8 billion.

The consignment was concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags inside the container.

In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk cultivated on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area, on Sept. 30.

In Plateau State, a suspect, Agbo Dennis, 41, was arrested on Sept. 29 at the West of Mines area of Jos North following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Sept. 28 raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, where they recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.

In a follow-up operation, 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo was arrested on Sept. 30 at Ladipo Spare Parts Market following the seizure of 61 grammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grammes of methamphetamine.

The drugs were allegedly concealed in a bottle of an energy drink and sent as a waybill package from a commercial bus driver along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway the previous day.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway on Sept. 30 intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commuter bus and found two sachets containing methamphetamine weighing 1kg concealed in a waybill.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, 29, at Utako, Abuja.

In Edo State, the residence of a suspect, Saturday Omimi, 35, was raided at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, on Oct. 2, leading to the recovery of 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

The same day, Osazuwa Iyabor Michael, 23, was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59 grammes of Loud, 12 grammes of Colorado, 19 grammes of tramadol, 16 grammes of methamphetamine, 4 grammes of Swinol and 4 grammes of Molly.

Six years after allegedly jumping bail, 47-year-old fugitive Idris Mohammed Kurra was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Sept. 29.

Kurra was facing trial at the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk.

The agency said he jumped bail granted by the court in December 2020 and had evaded arrest since then.

Meanwhile, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.

The activities included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of St Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State, among others.

While commending officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Tincan, Port Harcourt Port Command (PHPC), Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the fight against drug trafficking networks.

Marwa also urged the officers to maintain the agency’s current balanced approach to drug control efforts.