December 11, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted parcels of cocaine concealed in different parts of a travel bag brought into Nigeria by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.
A statement issued on Sunday, by Femi Babafemi, Spokesperson of the Agency, said Uchemadu was arrested on Monday, 5th December, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during inward clearance of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kilograms factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.
“At the SAHCO export shed of the airport, same day, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kilograms of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE. A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril, who presented the consignment for export was subsequently arrested”, he added.
“In the same vain, parcels of cannabis weighing 6.30kgs concealed in sound systems (speakers) going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the SAHCO export shed of the airport were also seized on Thursday, 8th December, by the operatives, who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later the following day, Friday, 9th Dec. nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew, in a follow-up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos.
“At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday, 9th December.
“Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island, on Saturday, 10th December, led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup, while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.
“This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the Agency, arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane, on Monday, 5th December, with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute -Ero Jetty in Lagos.
“In Ondo state, operatives on Tuesday, 6th Dec. stormed sharp corner, Ipele forest, in Owo area of the state, where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju, with C/S weighing 903.3kgs, while another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara, at Igbotako area of the state, with 168.5kgs of the same substance; 6kgs of monkey tail and various quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
“In Kebbi state, two suspects: Austine Julius and Sale Yakubu, were arrested on Sunday, 4th December, along Yawuri-Kebbi road, in a loaded Dyna Truck with 117 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,070 kilograms concealed under bags of oranges. The following day, Monday, 5th December, another set of two suspects: Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade, were intercepted along Koko- Kebbi road, In a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kilograms concealed under crates of soft drinks.
“A raid operation in Abbi town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State, led to the arrest of a pregnant 30-year-old dealer, Aniekem Evelyn, with 1,161kgs of C/S recovered from her warehouse.
“While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Seaports Operations, Ondo, Delta and Kebbi state commands for their hard work and diligence leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) CON, OFR urged them and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts”, the statement read.
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