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By Christopher Oji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment, with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms, was intercepted last Thursday by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport. Two cargo agents involved in the export bid—Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39—were swiftly arrested.
In a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, “Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment, and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.”
“In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 8, intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms, concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
“Two cargo clearing agents—Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun—were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday, April 13.
“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna–Zaria highway at Gwargwaje, Zaria, on Monday, April 13, intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa State. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver, Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested.
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“A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Udoh, was arrested on Thursday, April 16, when NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed, and 119kg recovered.
“Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday, April 14, at Saboro Camp, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of the substance. Three suspects—Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45—were arrested, with Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and seeds.
“Two suspects—Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39—were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta State, on Friday, April 17.
“In Lagos, two suspects—Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu—were arrested on Wednesday, April 15, at Mile 2, Lagos-Badagry Expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection to Ghana. The same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where 95.8kg of skunk was recovered.”
With the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities in the past week.
While commending officers and men of the various commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to maintain the current momentum.
