Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria have intercepted parcels of Cocaine concealed in different parts of a travel bag brought into Nigeria by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu from Sao Paulo via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.
Uchemadu was arrested on Monday, December 5 at the Lagos airport during in-ward clearance of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight following the discovery of three parcels of Cocaine weighing 2.70 kilogrammes factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said, at the SAHCO Export Shed of the airport same day, operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kilogrammes of Cannabis going to Dubai, UAE. A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril who presented the consignment for export was subsequently arrested.
In the same vein, parcels of Cannabis weighing 6.30 kilogrammes concealed in sound systems or speakers going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO Export Shed of the airport were also seized on Thursday, December 8 by the operatives who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later the following day, Friday, December 9 nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew in a follow-up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos State.
At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos State, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa among other illicit substances such as Heroin, Methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of Codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday, December 9.
Another raid of the popular Idumota Business District of Lagos Island on Saturday, December 10 led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol and 21.2 litres of Codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.
Also read: Grandma, pregnant woman, others in NDLEA’s net over 5,527.15kg meth, skunk
This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the Agency arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane on Monday, December 5 with 32,400 capsules of Tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute-Ero Jetty in Lagos State.
In Ondo State, operatives on Tuesday, December 6 stormed Sharp Corner, Ipele forest in Owo area of the state where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju with Cannabis Sativa weighing 903.3 kilogrammes, while another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara at Igbotako area of the state, with 168.5 kilogrammes of the same substance; 6 kilogrammes of Monkey Tail and various quantities of Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin.
In Kebbi state, North-West Nigeria, two suspects, Austine Julius and Sale Yakubu were arrested on Sunday, December 4 along Yawuri-Kebbi Road in a loaded Dyna Truck with 117 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,070 kilogrammes concealed under bags of oranges. The following day, Monday, December 5, another set of two suspects, namely Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade were intercepted along Koko-Kebbi Road in a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kilogrammes concealed under crates of soft drinks.
A raid operation in Abbi town, Ndokwa West LGA of Delta State led to the arrest of a pregnant 30-year-old dealer, Aniekem Evelyn, with 1,161kgs of Cannabis Sativa recovered from her warehouse.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)