The bid by members of an international drug syndicate that operates between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms has been thwarted and the consignments recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The drugs, according to a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, were discovered during the post-landing cleaning of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on October 29, 2024.
He said the illicit drug consignments were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft, from where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA was alerted about the strange objects.
Babafemi added that no fewer than 30 suspects have so far been grilled in connection with the seizure.
He said investigations revealed that the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers while some other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport before their attempt was frustrated with the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders.
In the same vein, Babafemi also disclosed that attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis and tramadol 225mg concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of artwork to Australia, United Arab Emirate and United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos were blocked by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Monday, October 28, 2024.
At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, he said NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, October 29, intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth N525 million in a targeted and watch-listed container from India during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Babafemi said a suspect Mujahid Hamisu, 24, was arrested with 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway on his way from Onitsha, Anambra state on Saturday, November 2 2024, while another suspect, Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the FCT.
In Kogi State, Babafemi explained that NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes N4.3 million, even as another suspect Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja- Okene- Abuja road on Thursday, October 30 with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg
He added that a notorious drug dealer, Usman Abba (alias Timaya) who has been on the watch list of the Katsina State command of NDLEA was on Wednesday, October 30 arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis.
On the same day, he said NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State arrested a suspect, Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.
In Taraba State, Babafemi said operatives on Friday, November 1, 2024 arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo state on Monday, October 28, 2024.
A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on Saturday, November 2, 2024 arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo State led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.
