The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that it has successfully thwarted attempts by Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) to smuggle illicit consignments from Nigeria to five countries.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the organisations wanted to smuggle the alleged consignments to the United States of America (USA), Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Babafemi identified the seized drugs as cocaine, tramadol, loud, molly and other narcotics.
He said that the suspects wanted to ship the consignments via logistics companies and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
According to him, the consignments were cleverly concealed in prayer beads, board game packs, female clothing and other items.
He revealed that, at least, two suspects linked to some of the failed smuggling attempts at MMIA had been arrested and detained.
“One of them, a 43-year-old businesswoman, was apprehended at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the airport.
“She was caught while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, March 8.
“Upon searching her luggage, operatives discovered 190 parcels of tramadol (225mg) and an additional parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis,” Babafemi said.
He said the suspect allegedly confessed to purchasing the drugs herself, intending to resell them in Italy.
“Similarly, on March 11, NDLEA officers at the airport’s export shed, arrested a 60-year-old suspect, while he was attempting to ship a package disguised as clothing.
“Upon inspection, 400 grams of skunk hidden within the garments were discovered in a consignment bound for New York, USA.
“Operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) also intercepted over two kilograms of illicit drugs.
“Including loud, molly, and tramadol (365mg and 225mg), concealed in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing.
“These shipments were en route to the US from various logistics companies in Lagos.
“Between March 10 and 12, NDLEA officers also seized 230 grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, the soles of locally made shoes, and board game packs.
“The were destined for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE,”he said.
Babafemi added that in spite of these enforcement efforts, NDLEA commands and formations across the country had continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns.
“These outreach activities targeted schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.
“Among the recent WADA awareness events were lectures held at U.P.E School, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa State; Agbegi and High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi.
“The others are Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra ; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti,” he said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA also seized large consignments of skunk, heroin and other opioids in raids across Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Babafemi said that in Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect.
According to him, the suspect was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Chalawa area of the state on March 12.
He added that no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were also intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi, in a commercial bus coming from Lagos, enroute Abuja on March 11.
He added that raid operations in Kachia, in Kaduna on March 13, led to the arrest of a 21 year-old suspect, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him.
Babafemi said that a similar exercise in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North Local Government Area (LGA) on March 14, also resulted in the arrest of another 25-year-old suspect.
According to Babafemi, 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg was also recovered from him.
“A total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara, on Friday, March 14.
“The NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect, along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday, March 13.
“Also, in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Friday, March 14, another 30-year-old suspect, at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77kg of skunk,” he stated.
Speaking further, he noted that agency operatives had also on March 13 in Osun, intercepted a commercial bus with registration number, SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island.
According to him, the NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis.
“Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.
“A 58-year-old suspect was on March 11, arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg.
“Another 26 year old suspect sold was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.
“In Abia, NDLEA operatives had also on March 15, raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect was arrested.
“Operatives recovered from him, 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, four grams of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit,” he said.
