The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted, at least, 649,300 capsules of Tramadol 225mg and made cash seizure of €809,850, among other consignments from Pakistan, Austria and Italy at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
This was as the anti-narcortic agency also blocked various quantities of Heroin and other illicit drugs from being exported to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada through the same airport.
The interception and cash seizure were revealed in a press release, on Sunday, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the release, anti-narcotic officers, on Wednesday, 16 February, 2022, seized 659,300 capsules of Tramadol 225mg weighing 460.95kg and imported from Pakistan, via Addis Ababa, through Ethiopian Airline.
The seizure by the NDLEA operatives was carried out at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company cargo warehouse at the MMIA and a suspect, Nwadu Ekene Christian, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
On the same day, a female passenger, Ms. Ayeki Happy, who was said to have arrived the airport from Italy on a Turkish Airline flight, was arrested with €69,850 cash, concealed in her luggage.
“This was four days after another lady, Precious Idahagbon, was arrested with €740,000 cash hidden in her luggage and undeclared upon her arrival at the airport from Vienna, Austria via Istanbul, Turkey.
“Both cash seizures are currently under investigation to establish if they are proceeds of drug business,” it was stated in the release.
It was also revealed that, at the NAHCO export shed of the airport, NDLEA operatives seized a consignment of 131 parcels of cannabis concealed in packages of black soap (Dudu-Osun), during outward clearance of cargo going to the UK.
“This is as another consignment presented for export to Dubai, UAE at SAHCO shed was also recovered after 30 parcels of cannabis hidden in cartons of cornflakes were discovered in it.
“Not less than 6.5kg of heroin, khat and oxycodone packaged for export to USA, and Canada were seized at a major courier company in Lagos by operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations (DOGI). The drugs were concealed in shoes and carton walls,” the release added.
In the same vein, Babafemi stated that a 34-year-old Nasiru Abdulrahman was arrested with 476kg of cannabis at Kwanar Dan Gora, Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State, on Friday, 25 February.
Also, 4,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg were seized from Abdulmuminu Abubakar, 24, who was arrested at Gidan Madara, Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, on Tuesday, 22 Feb while travelling on a motorcycle to deliver the drugs in Bukula, Cameroon Republic.
“He claimed another suspect, Fahad Mohammed, 19, gave the consignment to him. Fahad was later arrested in a follow up operation at his home in Kasuwan Borkono Area of Mubi town,” the release stated.
Babafemi also disclosed that two consignments were intercepted from transport vehicles in Abaji area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“While the first contained 12kg cannabis, the second has 356kg of the same substance. A follow up operation in Kaduna led to the arrest of the owner of the 356kg cannabis, Ayomide Adewale, 29,” he stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Bri. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Adamawa and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures.
He also charged them and other NDLEA officers and men across the country to intensify the offensive action against all drug cartels in every part of Nigeria.
