Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has foiled attempts by drug cartels to export large consignments of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ephedrine to Dubai, UAE and Europe through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos Southern Nigeria.
A press statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi BabaFemi disclosed that, among those behind the consignment who was arrested is a Nigerian based in Athens, Greece, Iwuozor Edward Chinedu.
Also, operatives of Anti-narcotic Agency at the NAHCO export shed of the airport on Monday 30th January arrested a pregnant woman, Mrs. Sylvester Gloria Onome after 800grams of skunk were discovered concealed in two small radio sets she was sending to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
BabaFemi said, operatives also intercepted a shipment same day, going to Congo Kinshasa, containing 111 bottles of body cream that were used to conceal 24.50kgs of ephedrine, a chemical precursor and active ingredient to produce methamphetamine.
He further explained that, the cargo was later traced to a trader, Onyekachukwu Uduekwelu at Alaba trade fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos state.
Similarly, a housewife, Mrs. Okpara Chizoba Victoria was arrested at her residence at 37 Obashola street, Ijesha area of Lagos state on Friday 27th January, following the seizure of 300grams of skunk hidden in a bag of crayfish she was sending to Dubai, UAE through a freight agent.
According to NDLEA’S spokesperson, operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport on Thursday 26th January intercepted a sack containing new clothes going to Sierra Leone with a parcel of white crystalline substance that tested positive to methamphetamine and other illicit substance.
“A freight agent, Mfonabasi Victor Joseph was already arrested in connection with the seizure.”
The NDLEA’S spokesperson further revealed that pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from an Italy based suspect, Duru Josephat, who concealed the drugs in two of the bags he was travelling with to Milan, Italy on an Ethiopian airline flight.
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In another development, a suspect, Clement Ekweozor, was nabbed at Rafin Zurfi area, Bauchi town with dozens of tramadol pills and other opioids.
Also, a 40-year-old secondary school teacher, Sani Isah was arrested by operatives in his residence in Jekadefari area of Gombe state on Thursday 2nd January, for dealing in new psychoactive substance, known as Akuskura.
BabaFemi said, “2,198 bottles of the substance concealed in six bags were recovered from him while he claimed to have started the illicit business since 2018.”
In Ogun state, 190kgs of cannabis were recovered from a dealer, Emmanuel Ibrahim in Lafenwa area of Abeokuta, the state capital, following credible intelligence while three suspects were arrested at Maidile area of Kano state with 2,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Reacting on the seizures and arrests across the country, the Chief Executive of the Agency, Retired Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa appreciated the efforts and commitment of the officers, men and women of the affected commands for ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drugs.
Marwa urged them and their compatriots across the country not to relent in their efforts in winning the war against illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
