Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a nationwide intelligence-led operation, have recovered a multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine.
Among them is a consignment concealed in heavy duty automobile pivot shafts, and Ghanaian fabric – Kente.
While 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday August 5, 2024, 10.494kg, a drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company.
NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug at the courier firm, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814 kilograms.
Spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday added that in another development, five other consignments going to the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday August 9, 2024.
“They include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada,” Babafemi said.
At a different logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10kg coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.
Meanwhile, in another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday August 7, arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha in Anambra State.
Two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town in Anambra State were also arrested on Thursday August 8, in a follow-up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, Edo State same day.
While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin Toll Gate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town.
NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday August 7, intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.
The seizure was made during 100 per cent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.
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