An artistes manager who is alleged to be involved in distribution of illicit drugs to fun-seekers at VIP night clubs and lounges in Lekki and Island axis of Lagos has been arrested.
The artistes manager and his businessman accomplice were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), last Sunday.
This was as NDLEA operatives uncovered UK, Oman, Dubai-bound drugs concealed in bottles of body cream and vehicle engine.
The Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, stated these in a press release issued today.
The agency intercepted the consignments of the artistes manager, hidden in coffee tins and duvets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Their arrest followed an intelligence about a shipment of Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, coming for them from Los Angeles, United States.
The artistes manager, Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde (aka Papalampa), was the first to be arrested in his house when the consignment arrived last Sunday
The house was situated at No. 3 Ope Daniel Taiwo Street, off Chisco Bus-Stop, Lekki area of Lagos.
During preliminary interview with the suspect, artistes manager confessed he started the illicit trade three years ago.
He also stated that he has been selling to patrons of clubs and lounges in Lekki and Lagos Island.
The artistes manager, Oseni, identified some of the night clubs and lounges to include Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA and Hot box.
He said, beside the drug business, he also organises shows for artistes around Lagos and outside the country, Babafemi stated.
“A total of 10 parcels of Colorado, weighing 2.50kg concealed inside large tins of coffee and duvets linked to Oseni were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at MMIA, Ikeja.
“During a follow up search of his residence, operatives recovered some quantities of the same substance, a digital weighing scale and other paraphernalia.
“An Ikoyi-based businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna also linked to the shipment was away in South Africa when the consignment arrived.
“While operatives maintained surveillance around his 18 Okotie Eboh Close, Ikoyi residence, they also set their dragnet for him at the airport.
“He eventually arrived into the waiting arms of NDLEA officers on Thursday, 27 July when he returned to the country on a Kenya Airlines flight at the Lagos Airport.
“Kingsley [the businessman accomplice of the artistes manager], in his statement accepted ownership of a part of the consignment,” Babafemi added in the release.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya.
“A search of the consignment revealed that various quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy) popularly known as ‘Molly’ and Rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuff.
“An agent, Onydem Chinwe Florence who presented it for export was arrested,” Babafemi further disclosed.
Also, an attempt by another suspect, Igboma Ifeanyi, to export quantities of Loud through an Ethiopian Airline flight to Muscat, Oman, was thwarted by NDLEA operatives.
The consignment of Loud, a variant of Cannabis, Tramadol and Rohypnol all weighing 7.8kg concealed in 66 bottles of skin lightening lotion was intercepted at the Lagos Airport.
“Another suspect, Ekpenisi Wisdom Pious, was equally arrested while trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Oman with 6.00kg skunk hidden in a bag of food stuff.
“A follow up operation led to the arrest of a staff of Toprano Hotel, Ikeja, Ibigbami Temitope Oluwatobi, who was fingered in the drug trafficking scheme.
“A consignment of 5.70kg codeine syrup going to the United Kingdom was, on Thursday, 27 July, seized from a 51-year-old widow, Adewunmi Taiwo Atinuke, by NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO Export Shed of the MMIA Ikeja.
“Equally, a consignment of 8.5kg skunk well concealed in a vehicle engine block going to Dubai, UAE was on, Tuesday, 18 July, intercepted by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to courier companies in Lagos.
“At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, another container load of nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas, linked to a 30-year-old businessman, Stephen Eze, was seized on Tuesday, 25 July.
“Two containers of the same substance imported from China by the suspect was earlier seized on 13 July at the Apapa Port.
‘The third shipment was intercepted during a joint examination of the container marked SUDU7431605 containing 8,336 cannisters of Nitrous Oxide and pressure release Nozzles.
“In Ondo State, two suspects- Francis Diamond (26) and Adekunle Damilola (26), were arrested in Ita Ogbolu Forest with 247.5kg cannabis.
“A [Volkswagen] Golf Car conveying the same substance weighing 308kg was intercepted at Airport Junction along Akure-Ogbese Road on Wednesday, 26 July with a suspect Farouk Umar (38), arrested.
“A 32-year-old suspect, Chukwuma Nnaji was also arrested with 47kg skunk in a warehouse at Onuogba Eke, Ishielu Local Government Area, Enugu State, on Saturday, 29 July.
“12kg of the same substance was recovered from a lock up shop during the raid,” it was further disclosed in the release.
A grandpa, Boniface Ogwurlobi (62), and Chimezie Onyenjuru were arrested at Uli Town, Ihila Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The duo were caught with a total of 49.415kg cannabis sativa, 127.7grams of methamphetamine and 15grams of cocaine during a raid operation, last Friday.
Men of the 9th Brigade, Nigerian Army arrested and transferred three suspects- Olasande Olutosin, Oleh Chiagozie and Obamuro Baiyeri- to the Lagos State Command of the NDLEA.
The three arrested suspects were caught last Tuesday with 2,608.3kg cannabis sativa, along with a truck conveying the substance.
“In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives, last Thursday, uncovered another skuchies factory in Sagamu where a suspect Femi Isiaka was arrested.
“Recovered from the factory include: 37kg Cannabis; 195 pills of Tramadol; 5,000 tabs of Diazepam; 216 tabs of Rophynol 216; 204 litres of skuchies; four fridges; four gas cylinders and one industrial cooker, among other items,” it was stated.
In another development, no fewer than 156,380 pills of Tramadol and other opioids were seized from two suspects- Abdulrazak Bala and Lawal Salisu.
The two suspects were arrested along the Gwagwalada-Abaji Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), last Saturday.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Enugu, Anambra, Ondo, Lagos, FCT and Ogun commands.
The NDLEA boss also commended the officers of DOGI for their resilience and commitment.
He charged them and their counterparts in other commands to “remain undaunted by the various machinations of drug cartels and barons who are daily frustrated and desperate due to the continued heat on them and their criminal trade.”
