A Brazil returnee, caught with several parcels of illicit drugs, has been arrested in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
This was as the NDLEA stated in a press release by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, that some others suspected drug traffickers were arrested in some other parts of the country.
The Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu who was coming from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Substances believed to cocaine, concealed in different parts of a travel bag and brought into Nigeria by the Brazil returnee, were intercepted from him.
The Brazil returnee, Uchemadu, was arrested last Monday at the Lagos Airport during inward clearance of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight, following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kilograms factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.
“At the SAHCO Export Shed of the airport same day, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kilograms of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE.
A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril who presented the consignment for export, was subsequently arrested,” Babafemi stated in the release.
He stated that parcels of cannabis, weighing 6.30kgs and concealed in sound systems (speakers) going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO Export Shed of the airport, were also seized on Thursday by NDLEA operatives.
Babafemi noted that the NDLEA operatives had initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji, involved and later the following day, nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew in a follow up operation at ASPAMDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos.
“At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers, including two ladies, were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances,” Babafemi said.
Among such drugs found on the arrested, the NDLEA spokesperson said, were heroin, methamphetamine and 320 bottles of codeine syrup, recovered from them during a raid of the area, last Friday.
“Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on Saturday led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup, while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.
“This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the agency arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane on Monday, 5th December with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute -Ero Jetty in Lagos.
“In Ondo State, operatives, on Tuesday, 6th December, stormed sharp corner, Ipele Forest in Owo Area of the state where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju with C/S weighing 903.3kgs.
“Another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara at Igbotako Area of the state, with 168.5kgs of the same substance; 6kgs of monkey tail and various quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
“In Kebbi State, two suspects- Austine Julius and Sale Yakubu- were arrested on Sunday, 4th December along Yawuri-Kebbi Road in a loaded Dyna Truck with 117 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,070 kilograms concealed under bags of oranges.
“The following day, Monday, 5th December, another set of two suspects- Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade- were intercepted along Koko- Kebbi road in a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kilograms concealed under crates of soft drinks.
“A raid operation in Abbi Town, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State, led to the arrest of a pregnant 30-year-old dealer, Aniekem Evelyn, with 1,161kgs of C/S recovered from her warehouse,” Babafemi added.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) CON, OFR, has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Seaports Operations, Ondo, Delta and Kebbi state commands for their hard work and diligence leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week.
He, however, urged them and their compatriots across other formations not to rest on their oars but rather intensify their efforts to rid the country of criminal elements.
