Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency has arrested an India-bound businessman with cocaine concealed in his luggage, as nationwide operations led to the seizure of billions of naira worth of illicit drugs.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says 48-year-old Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal Two of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
A search of his checked-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the side walls and railings of the luggage.
The NDLEA says Nwankwo, a marble dealer in Lagos, told investigators he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise 23 million naira to purchase the cocaine, hoping to sell the consignment in India for as much as 100 million naira.
He remains in custody awaiting prosecution.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at Number 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota.
Between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, officers recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at more than 2.6 billion naira.
Another intelligence-led operation on Wednesday, August 14, took officers to the residence of 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode at Number 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Lagos.
The NDLEA says 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis with an estimated street value of 972 million naira, were recovered.
A Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla were also seized from the suspect.
In Kwara State, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested on Thursday, August 13, at the Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96 kilograms of skunk. A truck with registration number DKA 350 XL was also recovered.
In Oyo State, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi were arrested during a patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, August 12.
Officers recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection from their Toyota Sienna, with registration number FFA-115KA.
In Delta State, 43-year-old Osaro Ikpoba and 18-year-old Samuel Godbless were arrested along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on Thursday, August 13.
Recovered from them were 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 Rohypnol tablets, 4,800 diazepam tablets, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Another suspect, 50-year-old Emeka Tony, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on Wednesday, August 12, with 1,244 cartridges and eight million naira in cash.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla with registration number MKD 341 EA along the Riyom-Jos road.
Officers recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, and arrested Kasum Sherif.
In Kano State, six suspects were arrested during a patrol along the Zaria-Kano road on Monday, August 10.
They are Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The NDLEA says the operation yielded 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, as well as 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Also in Kano, operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on Friday, August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilograms.
Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilograms of skunk on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested on one of the farms during the operation on Wednesday, August 12.
Two days later, 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City with 25.857 kilograms of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine.
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(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
