The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained an Indian businessman, Vyapak Nutal, who was caught smuggling 134,700 bottles of codeine syrup into the country through the land border between Nigeria and Niger Republic in Sokoto State.
The suspect had allegedly loaded the consignment into trucks in Cotonou, Benin Republic and drove through the land borders, via Niger Republic, before entering Sokoto State at the Illela Border.
A release by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that Nutal settled down in a hotel in the state and was looking for buyers for the controlled drug.
“While operatives were on his trail, officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) were able to apprehend him and swiftly handed him over to NDLEA on Wednesday, 10 February, 2022,” the release added.
In a related development, attempts by suspected drug traffickers to export large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, khat, tramadol and cannabis through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and three courier companies in Lagos were frustrated by narcotic officers who intercepted the illicit consignments.
“At the Lagos Airport, operatives on Tuesday, 8 February arrested one Felix Rotimi Eshemokhai with 1.75kg heroin while trying to board Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco.
“Another trafficker, Okafor Emmanuel Onuzuruike, was also nabbed same day during his bid to travel on RwandAir to Dubai with 2.2kg of cannabis concealed in food stuff.
“Not less than 25kg of methamphetamine, tramadol, cannabis and khat, concealed in motor parts, MP3 player, speaker and fabrics heading to USA, UK, Australia, Dubai and Madagascar, were seized at three major courier companies in Lagos.
“In Gombe State, 31,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from a truck that left Onitsha, Anambra State for Mubi, Adamawa State and the owner, Ibrahim Tukur Bage, was arrested on Friday, 11 February, while attempting to escape.
“This followed the arrest of Aliu Salami, 43, with 143.9kg cannabis at Oke-Ata, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Wednesday, 9 February.
“In the same vein, not even a bunch of talisman (charms) used by a trans-border drug dealer, Shu’aibu Salisu, could save him and his gang as their consignment of 578kg of cannabis meant for Niger Republic was intercepted in Kwara State on 8 February.
“Two persons, Gambo Lawal and Ibrahim Mohammed, were arrested while conveying the drug to someone in Charanchi, Katsina State.
“A follow up operation led to the arrest of Salisu and two others; Sani Musa and Auwal Amina, the day after at different locations within Kaita Local Government Area, Katsina State,” NDLEA stated in the release.
Babafemi also disclosed that, in Benue State, a fake security agent, Mr. Dennis Emadiong was, on 12 February arrested at NDLEA Check Point, Alaide.
The suspect was said to have been caught with 239grams of cannabis and 10 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition while on his way from Akwa Ibom to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Another suspect, Stephen Folorunsho, was also nabbed during a routine stop and search operation, along Apir-Makurdi Road, with 147 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 130kg stuffed inside bales of used clothes, popularly called Okrika, on his way to Gombe State.
“In Adamawa State, no fewer than 22,700 tablets of tramadol and Exol-5 were seized in Numan area of the state from two drug dealers, Mmaduabuchibeya Kingsley and Onyeke Kenneth, in separate raids on Thursday, 10 February.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of Sokoto, Gombe, Ogun, Kwara, Adamawa, Benue, MMIA Commands, as well as those of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) for their resilience in the effort to reduce the various drug supplies.
Marwa, according to the release, charged them and their colleagues across other commands to remain on the offensive against the cartels, just as he hailed the synergy and support from other security agencies.
