NDLEA Intercepts Drug Consignments In Winter Jackets

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted consignments of tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy (designer drug) and cannabis concealed in winter jackets and bottles of body cream at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

The psychoactive substances were recovered at the new terminal of the airport on Friday 14th April following the arrest of a passenger, Joshia Sunday, who was traveling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, Middle East.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said a thorough search of the suspects two black bags led to the discovery of 4.80 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (Designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect came into Nigeria from Oman on April 7 and was returning exactly a week after.

In the same vein, a Lekki Lagos-based businessman, Cyril Chidiebere, was on Friday, April 14, 2023, arrested along with two of his freight agents: Mejabi Peter Sunday and Oyeyinka Babatunde over their involvement in the importation of 12 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 6.50kg, which was part of a consolidated cargo brought in from the United States of America.

The arrest and seizure followed a three-day intelligence led operation.

The NDLEA said following the arrival of the cargo at the NAHCO import shed of the MMIA, its movement out of the airport was closely monitored in a sting operation until the actual importer, Chidiebere, was arrested in his house at Abraham Adesanya estate, Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos.

Babafemi also confirmed that both Mejabi and Chidiebere have made useful statements to confirm that the latter has been involved in dealing on illicit drugs in the past.

Meanwhile, a pregnant woman, Rabetu Abdulrasak, 24, and a cripple, Shehu Adams have been arrested by NDLEA operatives in Agbede, Etsako West LGA, Edo State while over 14 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and swinol were recovered from them on Saturday 15th April.

A 22-year-old HND 1 female student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Isoyo Iveren Susan was on Saturday 15th April arrested opposite 2nd Gate of the institution for dealing in illicit drugs.

Recovered from her include 1,100ml of codeine-based cough syrup and 283grams of cannabis.

This is just as operatives in Lagos arrested two suspects: Nonso Peter, 21, and Bright Chibike, 23, with 43.4kg cannabis at Ile-Epo, Abule Egba area of the state on Friday 14th April.

In Katsina State, no less than 1,730 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized from a suspect, Bishir Saadu in Katsina metropolis on Sunday, April 9, 2023, just as Muhamadu Yusuf was equally arrested same day with 8,000 capsules of tramadol inside a commercial bus along Kano-Katsina Road.