The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted multiple attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, to destinations including the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, and Qatar.
A statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the interceptions were the result of intelligence-driven operations, leading to the seizure of illicit substances and the arrest of individuals allegedly involved.
At the Lagos airport on November 5, NDLEA operatives seized 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg, destined for the United Kingdom via a Lufthansa Airlines flight. A businessman, Ekeocha Nelson, suspected to be linked to the consignment, was apprehended on November 8.
“The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on November 11. NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. He claimed to have traveled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before venturing into logistics,” the statement read.
In another operation at Terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on November 15, NDLEA officers arrested businessman Anoke Roomy with alleged 1,100 tramadol pills concealed in his luggage while attempting to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
In Abuja, NDLEA officers raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority Estate in Lugbe on November 15, arresting two suspects, Omeh Jude and Anene Chigozie, with 1.8kg of methamphetamine allegedly intended for transportation to Qatar.
Meanwhile, operatives from the Special Operations Unit in Lagos arrested Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi at his residence on Durojaiye Street, Surulere, recovering 1.8kg of methamphetamine after weeks of surveillance.
In a separate operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday 16th November foiled the attempt by alleged trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos.
“The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.
” In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state. While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday 14th November.
“A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday 13th November nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.
“In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday 14th November. A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, ” the statement said.