The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old Sao Paulo Brazil-based businessman for allegedly importing shirts and impregnated towels with 6.10kg of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight on Thursday.
He said that a thorough search of his luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.
“In his statement, the suspect claims he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil where he runs an African restaurant.
“He added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy food stuff in bulk for his restaurant,”he said.
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man both persons living with disability have been taken into NDLEA custody in Abia and Rivers states respectively following their involvement in illicit drug trade.
Babafemi said that the woman was nabbed with 1.8kg skunk by Umuosu vigilante group in Umuna Autonomous community, Isialangwa North LGA Abia and handed over to NDLEA on June 10.
He said that the male suspect was arrested at Rumuokoro Port Harcourt Rivers State with 400g of skunk, 5g of methamphetamine, 100g of tramadol.
This, he said included 5 grams of swinol and 18g of diazepam during a raid by NDLEA officers on June 9.
With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Government Science School, Lafia, Nasarawa; Community Secondary School, Imufu, Enugu Ezike, Enugu; Araromi Junior Secondary School, Adekunle Sari-Iganmu, Ijora, Lagos
Others are traditional leaders in Minjibir LGA, Kano; and St. Charles College, Onitsha, Anambra among others.
In the same vein, Babafemi said that the Rivers command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Onyekachi Amaonwu, Paramount Ruler of Eberi Omuma kingdom.
Also, NDLEA intercepted large illicit drug consignments in Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and the FCT.
Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives in Delta on June 8 arrested a suspect in possession of five gas cylinders at Ogwashi uku, Aniocha South area of the state.
He said that the cylinders were used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis
“This was followed by the arrest of two notorious dealers at Kasuwan Katako area of Gombe, Gombe state.
“They were caught with three big blocks of skunk that weighed 2.738kg at the time of their arrest by NDLEA operatives,”he said.
Meanwhile, another suspect was nabbed along Zaria/Kano road, Kano state on Friday, June 12 conveying 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Babafemi said that two suspects were intercepted by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu road, Kwara state.
“They were conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304kg in a black Toyota jeep with special registration number: P JHR 783 on Tuesday, June 9.
Also, in Taraba, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on Saturday, raided the warehouse of a notorious dealer at Maihula village, Bali LGA.
Babafemi said that 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5kg were recovered.
“Same day, operatives on patrol along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja, arrested a male suspect and seized from him assorted illicit substances.
“This includes: 30,400 pills of tramadol 225mg and 100mg; 750 pills of pregabline 300mg; 200 pills of molly; and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
“A large consignment of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,102kg, was recovered around Alaba International Market, Ojo area of Lagos on Saturday,” he said.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers, men and women of Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos, and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures.
He noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to surpass their previous records.
