Operatives of Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested a 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi for attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine to Europe.
The teenage student who was going for undergraduate studies was nabbed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA) Abuja on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.
A press statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi BabaFemi said, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance proved positive to Methamphetamine neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.
In the same vein, the operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday, 11th July intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts imported from Toronto, Canada.
BabaFemi said, based on intelligence, a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts.
Also, attempts to export various quantities of illicit substances through courier companies were equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, (DOGI), in Lagos.
“While 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, UAE, were seized at a courier firm, a suspect, Ibrahim Analu, 28, was arrested at Iddo motor park, Lagos while attempting to send 151,700 pills of opioids to Kaduna.
“A total of 4.830kg skunk was also discovered at another courier firm in a shipment from Douala, Cameroon passing through Nigeria to Oman. The drug was concealed in 10 of 12 cans of palm fruits paste, locally called Banga, packed in a carton,” BabaFemi added.
Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow up operation in Awka, Anambra state following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.
The agency’s operatives have also arrested suspects in Mushin/Oshodi, Lagos with hard drugs, as well as, many in Ondo, Katsina, Yobe, Delta, Kano, Kaduna and Borno states.
The Chief Executive of the agency, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the tenacity of the officers and men of the affected commands.
He charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and steadfast in the national assignment.
