NDLEA blocks export of illicit drugs to Qatar, UK, others
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has busted drug syndicates in Lagos and Abuja and seized large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids meant for export to United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar.
The consignments were intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The agency also arrested the masterminds, a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Publicity said on Sunday.
“A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.
“The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy.
“He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.”
Babafemi said another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy, was arrested with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday 15th November.
“Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34.
“Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.”
He also said that one Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit in NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.
“In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos.
“The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area on the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana,” the NDLEA spokesman said.
Babafemi disclosed that 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of Edo state.
He explained that 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, while 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA.
Babafemi said additional 136.5kg of cannabis was evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday 14th November.
“A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday 13th November nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested one Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, along Kano-Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.”
“In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect, Adio Sulaiman, with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday 14th November.
“A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital,” the official added.
