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By Emma Njoku and Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businessman, Molokwu Nwachukwu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos with 36 parcels of cocaine concealed in different parts of his check-in bags, hand luggage and two pairs of slippers, while heading to Southeast Asia.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure in a statement, yesterday, said Nwachukwu, who frequents China, Dubai, Pakistan, and Vietnam, was arrested at the screening point of the MMIA Terminal 2, while attempting to board his flight to Vietnam, on Wednesday, last week.
“A total of 36 parcels of whitish powdery substance which tested positive to cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.00 kilogram, were recovered from the handles of his bags and soles of two pairs of slippers in his luggage.
The suspect claimed he travels frequently to China, Dubai, Pakistan and Vietnam, from where he imports baby clothes which he distributes from his Onitsha, Anambra State base,” the statement noted.
Babafemi further disclosed that NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport also thwarted an attempt by a suspect, Chimezie Innocent Nwafor, to export 2.10 kilograms of methamphetamine to Brazil.
“Follow up operations led to the arrest of three more suspects linked to the consignment at Oyingbo market, Yaba, Lagos. They include: Ifeanyi Onu; Simon Nwuzor and Omini ThankGod Peter. The meth consignment was molded into 25 bars of local black soup called Dudu Osun and packaged in a carton for export to Brazil.
A similar attempt to export a cocaine consignment consisting of 300grams of raw cocaine and 200grams of phenacetin, a chemical agent used to adulterate and increase the volume of cocaine, concealed in packs of air freshener, going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, was also foiled by NDLEA operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed at the Lagos airport on Monday, March 20. A suspect, Onyeze Obiora, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Another bid by an intending passenger to Reggio, Italy, Osasere MacDonald, to export 500grams of tramadol 225mg concealed inside a carton of indomie noodles, on Tuesday, March 21, was equally frustrated by vigilant officers who seized the drugs and arrested him.
“On the same day, operatives of the Tincan Port command of the agency also intercepted 107 kilograms of cannabis indica, popularly known as colorado, hidden in a container bearing four used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada. Few days later, Friday, March 24, the Apapa Command of Customs Service was able to apprehend and hand over to NDLEA two suspects: Ademola Adekunle and Dayo Olatunji, linked to the consignment,” the statement further revealed.
Also, on Friday, March 24, operatives in Edo State intercepted a DAF trailer marked ZUR 378 XJ (Kebbi) in Auchi, Etsako West LGA, with 69 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 700kg, concealed under bags of fertiliser. While the bags of fertiliser were to be delivered in Funtua, Katsina State, the cannabis consignment was to be dropped in Kaduna. Both the driver of the truck, Babangida Mande, and his assistant, Mandir Abdullahi, are already in custody. Another suspect, Ijarekhai Ogbewee, was arrested on Thursday, March 23, at Ishokha Quarters, Otuo, Owan East LGA, with 32kg of the same substance.
A female drug dealer, Mrs. Kudirat Bello, was nabbed in the Igbesa area of Ogun State, on Monday, March 20, with different quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis and rohypnol, along with N119, 600.00 monetary exhibit.
In Delta, 96 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 82kg concealed inside jumbo bags of cassava flour were recovered at Basket Market, Asaba, while a total of 164, 750 pills of opioids, mainly tramadol, were seized from two suspects: Henry Abuchi and Daniel Ugwoke, in parts of Taraba State.
No fewer than 45 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 23kg were recovered along Okene – Abuja highway from Abubakar Muhammad, in a Toyota Hiace bus coming from Lagos and going to Maiduguri, on Tuesday, March 21, in Kogi State.
In Lagos, a total of 1,030.6 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from, at least, three suspects: Bolaji Adesina; Femi Ojo and Jamiu Useni during raid operations in the Mushin area of the state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Taraba, Kogi, and Lagos Commands of the agency for their vigilance and excellent working relationship with other security agencies in their areas of operation. He charged them and their colleagues across the country not to rest on their oars.
