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NDLEA intercepts Saudi Arabia, Europe-bound cocaine hidden in phone chargers, backpack
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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after he passed 98 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
Cyril was intercepted at the departure hall on Sunday, August 2, during outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930. Placed under excretion observation, he passed 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.51 kilograms.
Investigations showed Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight. He told NDLEA he had run a business in Italy for years and agreed to traffic the consignment for 3,500 Euros to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family lives.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives foiled a separate attempt to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers bound for Saudi Arabia via a courier firm.
A similar attempt to smuggle 500 grams of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was intercepted at another logistics company on August 3, while 2.3 kilograms of “Loud”, a synthetic cannabis strain arriving from the United States, was seized at a shipping company on August 4.
Along the Akure-Ilesha expressway, officers on patrol intercepted a truck carrying 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts on August 4, arresting two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30. A further 147 kilograms of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid the previous day.
In Oyo State, a tip-off led operatives to a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire LGA, on August 3, where 731.03 kilograms of drugs were recovered and a suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, was arrested; her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers backed by soldiers recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kilograms at Ewe Luleha, Owan West LGA, on August 5.
In Abia State, a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested and 7 kilograms of skunk seized during a raid in Osisioma LGA on August 6.
In Lagos, a long-wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the fibre market drug enclave in Badagry on August 8 after a three-month manhunt, with 88.5 kilograms of skunk recovered from him.
At Tincan port, a joint operation by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies uncovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4 kilograms, hidden in a 40-foot container, on August 4.
A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Alongside these operations, NDLEA commands nationwide continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation drives in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities including Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also held a WADA advocacy visit to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) commended officers of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for the operations and urged continued commitment to the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
