NDLEA Intercepts US, UK-bound Drug Consignments In Baby Food

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and cloths going to the United States and United Kingdom.

The consignments were intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier firm in Lagos.

Part of the consignments include 36 parcels of a strong strain of cannabis concealed in six cartons of tins of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, with six containers in each package, which were recovered at the SAHCOL export shed of Lagos airport on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said the psychotropic substance has a total weight of 18.50 kilograms.

A freight agent, Salaudeen Suliat Abiola who presented the consignment for export to the UK was promptly arrested while a follow-up operation to Ibadan, Oyo State on Saturday, August 3, led to the arrest of the sender of the cargo, Bello Motunrayo Folu at her No. 20 Mofoluwasho Estate, Elewuro, Akobo area of the Oyo State capital.

The Cerelac tins were all factory-sealed at the top while they tampered with the bottom through which they put the substances covered with loose quantities of the infant cereal meal to prevent discovery.

The NDLEA also said five different shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances, such as promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine concealed in cloths and other items meant for export to the US and UK were equally interrupted by its operatives in Lagos.

While one of the shipments containing 820grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was going to the United States, the remaining four parcels consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, Molly, and NPS were heading to the United Kingdom. They were all intercepted on Monday, July 29, at a logistics company in Lagos.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan port in Lagos on Friday, August 2, recovered 77 packages of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis from the body compartments of four vehicles: Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Toyota Corolla, and Toyota Sienna imported from Canada during a joint examination of some containers with men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders.

The seized consignments have a total weight of 38.5 kilograms while two suspects: Salami Abiodun Sunday, 34, and Lekan Atoyebi, 33, assigned to clear the shipments have been taken into custody.