Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businessman, Molokwu Nwachukwu, who frequents China, Dubai, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while heading to South-East Asia.
This was as the anti-narcotics agency intercepted meth going to Vietnam, Brazil, Italy-Bound Meth and also seized colorado consignment from Canada and 164,750 pills of opioids in Taraba State.
As stated by Babafemi, found concealed on Molokwu were 36 parcels of cocaine in different parts of his check-in bags, hand luggage and two pairs of slippers.
“He was arrested at the screening point of the MMIA Terminal 2 while attempting to board his flight to Vietnam on Wednesday, 22 March.
“A total of 36 parcels of whitish powdery substance that tested positive to cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.00 kilogram, were recovered from the handles of his bags and soles of two pairs of slippers in his luggage.
“The suspect claims he travels frequently to China, Dubai, Pakistan and Vietnam, from where he imports baby wears he distributes from his Onitsha, Anambra state base,” Babafemi stated.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives, at the Lagos Airport, have thwarted attempt by a suspect, Chimezie Innocent Nwafor, to export 2.10 kilograms of methamphetamine to Brazil.
“Follow up operations led to the arrest of three more suspects linked to the consignment at Oyingbo Market, Yaba, Lagos. They include Ifeanyi Onu; Simon Nwuzor and Omini ThankGod Peter.
“The meth consignment was molded into 25 bars of local black soup called Dudu Osun and packaged in a carton for export to Brazil,” he added.
Similarly, attempt to export a cocaine consignment, consisting of 300grams of raw cocaine and 200grams of phenacetin, a chemical agent used to adulterate and increase the volume of cocaine, concealed in packs of air freshener, to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea was also foiled by NDLEA operatives.
The seizure was made by the NDLEA operatives attached to the SAHCO Export shed at the Lagos Airport on Monday, 20 March.
“A suspect, Onyeze Obiora, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the NDLEA Director of Media further stated.
An intending passenger to Reggio, Italy, Osasere MacDonald, to export 500grams of tramadol 225mg concealed inside a carton of indomie noodles was equally stopped in his tracks by vigilant officers who seized the drugs and arrested him.
“On the same day, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the agency also intercepted 107 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, popularly known as Colorado, hidden in a container bearing four used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.
“Few days later, Friday, 24 March, the Apapa Command of Customs Service was able to apprehend and hand over to NDLEA two- Ademola Adekunle and Dayo Olatunji -linked to the consignment,” Babafemi stated.
In Edo State, operatives, last Friday, intercepted in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, a DAF trailer marked ZUR 378 XJ (Kebbi) with 69 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 700kg concealed under bags of fertiliser.
“While the bags of fertiliser were to be delivered in Funtua, Katsina state, the cannabis consignment was to be dropped in Kaduna.
“Both the driver of the truck, Babangida Mande and his assistant Mandir Abdullahi are already in custody,” Babafemi stated.
Another suspect, Ijarekhai Ogbewee, was arrested last Thursday at Ishokha Quarters, Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, with 32kg of the same substance.
A female drug dealer, Mrs. Kudirat Bello, was nabbed in Igbesa area of Ogun State, last Monday, with different quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis and rophynol along with N119, 600.00 monetary exhibit.
In Delta State, 96 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 82kg concealed inside jumbo bags of cassava flour were recovered at Basket Market, Asaba.
In parts of Taraba State, a total of 164, 750 pills of opioids mainly tramadol were seized from two suspects: Henry Abuchi and Daniel Ugwoke.
In Kogi State, no fewer than 45 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 23kg were recovered along Okene – Abuja Highway from Abubakar Muhammad, in a Toyota Hiace bus coming from Lagos and going to Maiduguri, last Tuesday.
In Lagos, a total of 1,030.6 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from, at least, three suspects- Bolaji Adesina; Femi Ojo and Jamiu Useni -during raid operations in Mushin area of the state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Taraba, Kogi and Lagos commands of the Agency for their vigilance and excellent working relationship with other security agencies in their areas of responsibility.
The NDLEA boss charged them and their colleagues across the country not to rest on their oars, Babafemi concluded in the press release.
