Operatives of Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have thwarted attempts by agents of drug cartels to break through the security at Nigeria’s main airports in Lagos South West Nigeria and Abuja the capital city with large consignments of assorted illicit substances.
Eleven members of the trafficking syndicates have been arrested in connection to the seizures.
— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) June 5, 2022
The Director media and advocacy of the agency Mr. Femi Babafemi revealed this in a press statement in Abuja.
Also, a 35-year-old physically challenged lady, Kasarachi Onumajuru who hides under her condition to deal drugs in Umudumaonu community, Mbaitoli local government area of Imo state was also arrested on Sunday 29th May.
“First on the list of those arrested in connection to seizures at the two airports is Ofor Chima Chileobi who had on Friday 20th May attempted to export to Dubai, UAE, 200 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 30.20kg concealed in 40 sacks of bitter leaf through the SAHCO export shed, a cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“On the same day, 10 cartons of khat with a gross weight of 354.600kg were also seized at the NAHCO import shed of the airport. The following day, Saturday 21st May, a freight agent, Roland Orinami was arrested by NDLEA operatives attached to the local wing of the Lagos airport with1.90kg Loud, a variant of cannabis, factory packed in some bottles while trying to send same via flight to Abuja,“ the statement read.
“A follow up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of a taxi driver, Nsikak Evans sent to collect the consignment.”
In the same vein, “efforts by drug cartels to export 4kg methamphetamine concealed in nylon rolls to New Zealand were also frustrated by anti-narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos just as they blocked different quantities of cannabis sativa and Tramadol hidden in soles of slippers from being shipped to Oman through the same firm.”
Meanwhile, 335,820 tablets of Tramadol, Exol 5, Diazepam and Rohypnol as well as 400 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in bags of vegetables have been intercepted in Abuja in a hummer passenger bus coming from Enugu on Monday 30th May.
“The bus driver, Augustine James 35, is currently helping investigation,“ the statement explained.
In Imo state, “1,111kg of cannabis sativa heading to the Orlu forest, which has become a fortress for non-state actors, was intercepted on Thursday 26th May.”
Reacting on the seizures, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of MMIA, NAIA, DOGI, FCT and Imo Commands of the Agency for sustaining the heat on drug cartels.
