An Indian businessman, Vyapak Nutal has been taken into custody for interrogation by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over the smuggling of 134,700 bottles of Codeine syrup into the Nigeria.
The consignment came through the land border Sokoto state Northern Nigeria a border state with Niger Republic.
A press statement by the Director media and advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja Mr. Femi Babafemi said “the suspect had loaded the consignment into trucks in Cotonou, Benin Republic and drove through the land borders via Niger Republic before entering Sokoto state.”
“Credible intelligence reveals that Nutal began to look for buyers for the controlled drug While operatives were on his trail, as officers of the Department of State Security were able to apprehend him and swiftly handed him over to NDLEA on Wednesday 10th February 2022,” the statement explained.
In a related development, “attempts by drug traffickers to export large quantities of Heroin, Methamphetamine, Khat, Tramadol and Cannabis through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA as well as three courier companies in Lagos have been frustrated by narcotic officers who intercepted the illicit consignments.”
“At the Lagos airport, operatives on Tuesday 8th Feb arrested one Felix Rotimi Eshemokhai with 1.75kg heroin while trying to board Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco while another trafficker, Okafor Emmanuel Onuzuruike was also nabbed same day during his bid to travel on RwandAir to Dubai with 2.2kg of Cannabis concealed in food stuff.”
Also, “not less than 25 kilograms of Methamphetamine, Tramadol, Cannabis and Khat concealed in motor parts, MP3 player, speaker and fabrics heading to USA, UK, Australia, Dubai and Madagascar were seized at three major courier companies in Lagos.”
Arrests in other states:
In Gombe state, “31,000 capsules of Tramadol were recovered from a truck that left Onitsha, Anambra state for Mubi, Adamawa state and the owner, Ibrahim Tukur Bage, arrested on Friday 11th Feb, while attempting to escape. This followed the arrest of Aliu Salami, 43, with 143.9kg cannabis at Oke-Ata, Abeokuta South LGA, Ogun state on Wednesday 9th February.”
In the same vein, “Shu’aibu Salisu was arrested with 578kg of Cannabis meant for Niger Republic in Kwara state on 8th February when two persons: Gambo Lawal and Ibrahim Mohammed were also arrested while conveying the drug to someone in Charanchi, Katsina State.”
In Benue state, “a fake security agent, Mr. Dennis Emadiong was on Saturday 12th February arrested at NDLEA check point, Alaide, Benue with 239grams of cannabis and 10 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition while on his way from Akwa Ibom to Maiduguri, Borno state.”
“Another suspect, Stephen Folorunsho was also nabbed during a routine Stop and Search operation, along Apir-Makurdi road with 147 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 130kg stuffed inside bales of used clothes popularly called Okrika on his way to Gombe State.” The statement further explained.
In Adamawa state, “no fewer than 22,700 tablets of Tramadol and Exol-5 were seized in Numan area of the setate from two drug dealers: Mmaduabuchibeya Kingsley and Onyeke Kenneth in separate raids on Thursday 10th February.”
While commending the officers and men of Sokoto, Gombe, Ogun, Kwara, Adamawa, Benue, MMIA Commands as well as those of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, for their resilience in the various drug supply reduction efforts, the the Chief Executive NDLEA Mohammed Buba Marwa charged them and their compatriots in country to remain on the offensive against the cartels.
