Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the weekend disrupted the activities of a major cocaine syndicate in Lagos state, following the arrest of a 56-year-old trafficker, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga who was on a mission to deliver 400grams of the class A drug concealed in a pair of palm sandals to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The spokesperson for the agency Mr Femi BabaFemi in a statement disclosed that a swift follow up led to the arrest of a wanted notorious kingpin, Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan popularly known as Teacher, who recruits mules for the cartel.
A thorough examination of the sandals revealed they were used to conceal two parcels of cocaine weighing 400 grams.
“The Agency’s database reveals that Wasiu Sanni (Teacher), has been linked to some previous attempts to traffic cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE.”
“He was earlier named as the one who recruited a BRT driver, Bolajoko Muyiwa Babalola for Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) to traffic drugs to Dubai.
“Bolajoko was arrested on 27th June while taking 900 grams of cocaine to Dubai while Ademola Kazeem was nabbed on Thursday 10th November, barely 10 days after he was declared wanted by NDLEA.”
In the same vein, operatives attached to NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport on Tuesday 22nd November intercepted a consolidated cargo from Johannesburg, South Africa via an Airpeace Airline flight.
“The cargo contained different items, including cloths, cereals, baby toys, drinks and a set of two big black speakers, which were used to conceal 25 parcels of Loud variant of cannabis, with a gross weight of 5.5kg.”
Similarly, operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed of the airport same Tuesday intercepted a carton of food items used to conceal 500 grams of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE while the owner, Uzoma Kingsley was promptly arrested.
In a related development, attempt by an Organised Criminal Group to traffic 131kg of Ephedrine, a dominant precursor chemical for the production of Methamphetamine to Congo Kinshasa through the SAHCO export shed of the airport was foiled on Monday 21st November by NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
“Two freight agents, Nwazuru Georgewill and Saheed Muritala linked to the bid were promptly arrested.”
Meanwhile, attempt by a drug trafficker, Udogwu James Johnson, facing multiple charges of drug offences to flee the country after he jumped bail has been thwarted by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport where he was arrested on Friday 25th November.
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“The 51-year-old suspect was already facing trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos before he was arrested again on Saturday 9th April in Port Harcourt for importing 5.48kg cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax.”
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA, Abuja), the move by a Brazilian returnee, Iroegbute Ejike Francis, 46, to smuggle 4kg cocaine soaked in towels stuffed in his hand luggage into the country was foiled on Thursday 24th November by NDLEA officers who arrested him, upon his arrival on a Qatar Airline flight from Brazil.
No fewer than 5,851.3 kilograms (5.8 tons) of cannabis sativa were seized from dealers across five states in the past week, including a notorious cripple, Ibrahim Yusuf, 45, who was arrested on Monday 21st November at Gasline, Ifo, Ogun state with 4kg of the psychotropic substance.
“A total of 36 bags weighing 570kg of the same substance were recovered in another raid at a forest in Ogunmakin town, Obafemi Owode LGA.”
Many arrests and drug seizures including fire arms were made by the NDLEA operatives in Edo and Anambra, Ondo and Oyo States.
The Chief Executive of NDLEA, Retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the affected Commands of the Agency for their professionalism in the discharge of their duties and the remarkable results that followed.
He enjoined them and their compatriots across the country not to let down their guards as the nation approaches the festive season.
