NDLEA intercepts U.S., UK, DRC-bound illicit drug consignments at Lagos airport

By Omodele Adigun

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of illicit drugs heading to the U.S., the United Kingdom and the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the drugs, concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs and female clothes, were  intercepted at a courier company in Lagos.

He said that at least two suspects linked to an attempt to export the illicit substances had already been taken into custody.

According to him, one of them, a cargo agent, was arrested on Oct. 7, following the discovery of 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

He added that it was concealed in 10 pieces of giant rechargeable electrical bulb he presented in a carton,  for airfreight to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the export shed of the Lagos  airport.

“Another of the suspects in custody is a 48-year-old, who is a UK-based Public Health Assistant. He  was also arrested on Sunday, Oct. 12, at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the airport, in Ikeja.

“This followed the discovery of frozen snails used to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol,  225mg in her luggage,  while heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, on a Qatar Airways flight.

“Attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in female clothes going to the U.S., was also thwarted by NDLEA officers, at a courier company in Lagos, on Thursday, Oct. 16,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Adamawa, a suspect was intercepted at an NDLEA check point in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area (LGA)  with 38,270 pills of tramadol.

Babafemi noted that the pills were concealed in the spare tyre, boot as well as the door compartments of the  Honda Civic car, which he drove all the way from Benin Republic, to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on Sunday, Oct. 12.

‎In a related development, not less than 53, 250 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on a 21.3 hectares of cannabis farm in Ilawe Ekiti, in Ekiti state, with 70 bags of the same psychoactive substance.

Babafemi added that  the drugs weighing 1,140kg were recovered by operatives of the NDLEA, during an operation that lasted between Sunday, Oct. 12 and Monday, Oct. 13.

This, he said,  followed the destruction of 17,400kg skunk on 6.96 hectares of plantation by the NDLEA operatives,  at Aponmu forest reserve, Akure, in Ondo  on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Similarly, in Oyo, four suspects were nabbed with 596kg skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while two others were arrested with 273kg  of the same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on Thursday, Oct. 16.

In Ogun, a suspect was arrested in possession of 88kg skunk on Wednesday, Oct. 15, by NDLEA operatives at Ona – Imeko, in Ogun.

“Another suspect, 42, was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids along Onitsha- Owerri road, in Imo state.

“A total of 74.5kg skunk was also recovered from the store of a suspect, at Umuogbo – Agu village, Enugu state on Saturday, Oct. 18,” he stated.

In another development, no fewer than 11 bags of skunk weighing 117kg were recovered from the base of a suspect in Mushin area of Lagos, on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Babafemi added that a total of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were also intercepted in a container earlier watch-listed by NDLEA, coming from India.

This, he said, was during a joint examination of the shipment with men of the Customs service and other security agencies at the Apapa port on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

“In like manner, Commands and formations of the agency  across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities, among others in the past week.

“These include: WADA advocacy lecture to students and staff of the Commercial Grammar School, Igogo Ekiti; Junior Secondary Smart School, Kasarawa, Katsina and Government Technical College, Ahoada, Rivers.

“Others are, Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Yau Danzabuwa, Babura, Jigawa state; Attarbiyya Community College, Hotoro, Kano and Fuga Mixed Secondary School, Fuga, Edo state.

“The agency also carried out the sensitization at St. Cyprian Special Science School, Nsukka, Enugu and St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta in  Ogun, among others.”

According to Babafemi, the the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, has commended the officers and men of MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Ondo, and Imo Commands, for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country, not to relent in their ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.(NAN)