BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested one Lawal Rasheed, an Uber driver and two other traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, with different quantities of cocaine in their possession.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, indicated in a statement on Sunday that Rasheed was apprehended at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA on June 8, while attempting to export to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, a consignment he bought from his client. He was caught with 150 grams of cocaine hidden in two pieces of air freshener.
Another suspect, Egbo Maduka was on June 9 arrested at his residence after investigations confirmed his involvement with Rasheed. Maduka was also alleged to have been involved in the concealment of 50grams of cocaine in a hair attachment on June 4.
In yet another arrest, one Udogwu Johnson, on-board a Qatar Airline flight from GRU in Brazil, was, on June 11, caught at D-arrival hall, MMIA, Lagos. He was in possession of nine wraps of cocaine weighing 300grams, which he hid in his underwear.
Also, a final year student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Ali Mohammed, after a tip-off, was arrested on June 10 in possession of 3.032kg of cannabis sativa at Iddo motor park, Lagos.
The 27-year-old Lagos based Yobe indigene, claimed he met an acquaintance, Ahmed on his way home in Obalende. According to Mohammed, he told Ahmed he was returning to school in Bauchi via Kano. Ahmed then begged him to help deliver a travel bag containing the seized canabis to one Ugo residing in Sabon Gari, Kano.
While admitting knowledge of the content of the bag, he however, denied collecting or being promised any money for agreeing to make the delivery.
Reacting to the arrests, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) heaped praises on the MMIA and Lagos state Commands of the Agency while calling for intensified vigilance in the execution of their duties.
