The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over N10 billion at Lagos ports and arrested suspected drug kingpins linked to cocaine, cannabis and opioid trafficking operations. The agency also recovered 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in kegs of palm……
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over N10 billion at Lagos ports and arrested suspected drug kingpins linked to cocaine, cannabis and opioid trafficking operations.
The agency also recovered 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in kegs of palm oil in Kaduna and Katsina states, while uncovering a UK-bound tramadol shipment hidden inside containers of black soap.
NDLEA disclosed the operations in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, operatives arrested a 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons used to package food items destined for the United Kingdom.
The cocaine consignment was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 22, leading to Onuigbo’s arrest the following day.
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Babafemi said investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents — Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim — before Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the shipment, was apprehended.
He said Okakpu’s arrest eventually exposed Onuigbo as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate.
“Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK,” the statement said.
In another operation, NDLEA arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, after seizing 2.80 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, allegedly imported from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
The agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg valued at over N2.2 billion after acting on intelligence during a joint examination of cargo from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.
The seizure came shortly after operatives intercepted another shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap meant for export to the United Kingdom.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA uncovered a container carrying three vehicles used to conceal 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of over N7.1 billion.
Outside Lagos, the agency said its operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol operation in Baure, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, where he was allegedly found in possession of 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers allegedly recovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of red palm oil.
The agency said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, recovering 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds.
Two additional suspects, Ojore Onweze, 45, and George Agwumede, 30, were also arrested with 60 kilograms and 13 kilograms of skunk, respectively.
The anti-narcotics agency said it also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across Niger, Kano and Lagos states during the week.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to remain committed to the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and public awareness.
“While commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna, and Katsina Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency,” the statement added.