Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom (UK).
The arrest was effected on Thursday, 9 April when the hard drug was discovered in a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
This was as the anti-narcotic agency destroyed over 17,000kg skunk during raids in Edo, Cross River forests and also recovered large consignments in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna operations
The cocaine consignment heading to the UK with a gross weight of 2.80 kilogrammes was intercepted by NDLEA operatives attached to the Export Shed of the Lagos Airport.
Two cargo agents involved in the export bid –Ama Obinna Ufeim (33), and Ogabi Monday Akorede (39)– were swiftly arrested.
Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the Import Shed of the Lagos Airport on Wednesday, 8 April, intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilogrammes and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the US aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents– Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun– were initially arrested in connection with the seizure.
The consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was eventually nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3, Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday, 13 April.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives, on patrol along the Kaduna-Zaria Highway, by Gwargwaje Zaria, on Monday, 13 April, intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa State.
A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilogrammes.
The truck driver, Umar Garba Haruna (33), was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested last Thursday when NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, raided a forest in Uwet Community, Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State.
During the raid, 15,000 kilogrammes of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.
Another cannabis farm was raided, last Tuesday, at Saboro Camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of the same psychoactive substance.
Three suspects, Nweke Smart (27); Christopher Egbe (62); and Monday Ayan (45), were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds.
In another development, two suspects: Sunday Odili (49), and Ijenebe Joshua (39), were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta State, last Friday.
In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu, were arrested, last Wednesday, at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry Expressway.
They were caught while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana.
Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.
With the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
They held the WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger State; Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State;
Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi State; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina State; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos State, among others.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has commended officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
He noted that their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities and charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
