NDLEA Intercepts Tramadol, Cannabis Consignments Concealed In Winter Jackets, Body Lotion
Consignments of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (Designer drug) and Cannabis concealed in winter jackets and bottles of body cream was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, according to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
A passenger, identified as Joshia Sunday, who was traveling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, Middle East, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
According to the Agency’s Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, a thorough search of the suspect’s two black bags led to the discovery of 4.80 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (Designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect came into Nigeria from Oman on April 7, and was returning exactly a week after.
In the same vein, a Lekki Lagos based businessman, Cyril Chidiebere, has been arrested for the importation of twelve parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 6.50kg, which was part of a consolidated cargo brought in from the United States of America.
The suspect was arrested along with two of his freight agents, Mejabi Peter Sunday and Oyeyinka Babatunde, on Friday 14th April after a three-day intelligence led operation.
Following the arrival of the cargo at the NAHCO import shed of the MMIA, its movement out of the airport was closely monitored in a sting operation until the actual importer, Cyril Chidiebere, was arrested in his house at Abraham Adesanya estate, Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos. Both Mejabi and Chidiebere have made useful statements to confirm that the latter has been involved in dealing on illicit drugs in the past, Mr Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old pregnant woman, Rabetu Abdulrasak, and a cripple, Shehu Adams were arrested by NDLEA operatives in Agbede, Etsako West LGA, Edo State, on Saturday and over 14 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and swinol were recovered from them.
A 22-year-old HND 1 female student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Isoyo Iveren Susan, was also arrested opposite 2nd Gate of the institution for dealing in illicit drugs. 1,100ML of codeine-based cough syrup and 283 grams of cannabis were recovered from her.
This is just as operatives in Lagos arrested two suspects, Nonso Peter, 21, and Bright Chibike, 23, with 43.4kg cannabis at Ile-Epo, Abule Egba area of the State on Friday.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna on Thursday raided a clandestine laboratory where mist potassium citrate was being produced in a residential apartment at 16 Sabon Gari, Zaria.
The owner of the lab, Christopher Agodi, was arrested and 102 cartons containing 2,448 bottles of the substance recovered.
While a suspect, Salisu Abdullahi, 25, was arrested along Abuja-Kaduna road with 11.7kg cannabis concealed in two jerrycans, which he was moving from Port Harcourt to Kano.
Similarly, anti-narcotic officers acting on a tip-off, arrested two suspects, Aminu Saudi, 45 and Abdullahi Sani, 35, at Ogbese, Ondo State, with 11 jumbo bags containing 211 kg of cannabis concealed in rice chaffs. This was closely followed by the destruction of six hectares of cannabis farm in Uso forest in the state on Thursday 13th April.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Edo, Ogun, Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna and Ondo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.
He urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain focused and continue the current drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts simultaneously.
