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By Emma Njoku and Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered 442 parcels of Crystal Methamphetamine concealed in heads of fishes packed in cartons for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, through the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The 11.90 kilograms consignment was brought to the SAHCO export shed of the airport penultimate Friday, by a freight agent, Adekunle Oluwapelumi Paul, 32, from Yagba West Local Government Area (LGA) in Kogi State.
A statement by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Oluwapelumi was promptly arrested upon the discovery that the seven cartons he presented for export contained parcels of the dangerous drug wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish.
Babafemi further stated: “The following day, Saturday, August 6, another consignment containing 1.45kg cannabis concealed inside granulated melon and crayfish and packed among other food condiments going to Dubai, UAE, was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives who arrested the freight agent, 39-year-old Ajisefini Lateef from Abeokuta West LGA, Ogun State, who presented the cargo for export at the SAHCO shed.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Saturday, August 6, arrested a 50-year-old Mgbeobuna Victor Eberechukwu, upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, onboard an Ethiopian airline flight, for ingesting 77 pellets of cocaine.
The suspect, who hails from Idemili South LGA, Anambra state, passed out the 77 wraps of the illicit drug in eight excretions, spanning four days.
In Kaduna, three suspects: Saifullahi Sani, Salisu Nafi’u and Abdulrazaq Mamman, were arrested in Zaria, last Thursday with 1,112,350 tablets of tramadol (225mg and 100mg) weighing 38.3kg, while in Kano, a female drug dealer, Saratu Abdullahi, 28, from Wurno council area of the state was nabbed at Hotoro with 541 blocks of cannabis weighing 245kg.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 1,773.25kg cannabis sativa at Ebute-Metta and Akala in Mushin areas of the state, in separate raid operations between August 9 and 10. At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, 86 parcels of cannabis indica (Colorado), weighing 43kg, were recovered from a 40ft container during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.
The illegal consignment seized last Friday came from Toronto via Montreal, Canada and concealed in two drums inside a Mercedes Benz SUV in the container.
In Abia, two suspects: Nnanna Ijo, 58, and Orji Uguru, 29, were arrested last Friday with various quantities of cannabis, heroin and cocaine at Nde-Agbai, Abiriba, a week after Nnanna was released from detention over a similar offence committed in June.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Tincan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Abia Commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests, Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to always remain steps ahead of the drug cartels.
