Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted illicit drugs concealed in the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary and auto spare parts heading to Canada and the United Arab Emirate, UAE.
This is contained in a press statement by the Director Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Mr Femi Babafemi.
“The narcotics agents from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations seized 500grammes of heroin going to Canada and hidden inside auto spare parts from one of the courier firms while 140grammes of Methamphetamine going to Philippines and concealed inside statue of Virgin Mary was seized in another courier company in Lagos”, the statement read.
The Director, Operations and General Investigations, Adeyemi Adeofe disclosed that “3.1kg of cannabis going to UAE concealed inside spices, and another kilogramme of cannabis going to UAE concealed inside local herbs were intercepted and seized.”
Subsequent arrests
In a related development, the Ondo state Command of the Agency has in series of raids between April 6 and 20, 2021 across the state, arrested 31 suspects from whom 275.552kg of assorted illicit drugs were recovered.
According to the acting Commander of the state Command, Callys Alumona, “the sting operations were carried out to curb the increasing rate of drug abuse among the youths and even the elderly in Ondo State.”
“This has led to the arrest of 31 suspects which include 24 males and seven females.”
“The illicit drugs seized consist of 74.285Kgs of cannabis sativa, 267grammes of psychotropic substances; 201Kgs of skuchies (a combination of cannabis, tramadol, ethanol, and hibiscus leaves), while many of the drug spots have been dismantled”, he added.
Seizures in other areas
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom state Command of the Agency have also intercepted and seized 62.150kg of illicit drugs in Oron and Uyo areas of the state.
The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs. Obot Bassey said “four suspects were arrested in the two sting operations carried out on Thursday 22 and Friday April 23, 2021.
Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men in the various commands for their steadfastness and commitment to the new operational maxim and offensive action.
He charged them to stay focused and do more to rid every part of the country of the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking.
Nneka Ukachukwu
