Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled multiple attempts by drug trafficking organisations to smuggle illicit substances to Europe, intercepting consignments concealed in unusual items at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, and a courier facility in Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, disclosed on Sunday that the seized drugs included methamphetamine and opioids hidden in cartons, winter jackets, and body cream containers.
He said, “Desperate attempts by drug trafficking organisations to move consignments of illicit substances to Europe have been successfully thwarted by our operatives through intelligence-led operations and vigilant surveillance.”
Babafemi revealed that two consignments destined for Italy led to the arrest of suspects at the Lagos airport.
“One of the suspects, 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka, was intercepted on Friday, March 20, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in containers of skin-lightening body cream packed in his luggage,” he said.
According to him, the suspect admitted to financial inducement. “In his statement, Ehianuka, a resident of Milan, confessed he was to be paid in Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment,” Babafemi added.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested another Italy-bound passenger at the departure hall of the airport.
Babafemi stated, “On Wednesday, March 18, Christian Agbonhese, 38, was intercepted while attempting to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan. A thorough search of his luggage led to the recovery of 28,470 pills of opioids concealed in two large winter jackets.”
He said the seized drugs comprised 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg, 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg, and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg.
At a Lagos courier firm, Babafemi said officers intercepted parcels containing a strong strain of cannabis.
“Two parcels of ‘Loud’ cannabis weighing 1 kilogram, shipped from the United States, were recovered, while another attempt to export 158 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton to New Zealand was also thwarted,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesman further disclosed that operations across the country led to multiple arrests and seizures.
“In Kano, two suspects were arrested on March 18 with a combined 198kg of skunk, while in Lagos, 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a store in the Otto, Ijora area,” he said.
He added, “On the same day, two suspects were arrested on the Third Mainland Bridge with 8,380 bottles of codeine syrup.”
Babafemi said additional seizures were recorded in Edo, Abuja, Oyo, Kaduna, Taraba, and Adamawa states.
“In Edo State, 97.5kg of skunk was recovered from a suspect’s residence, while in Abuja, 91,840 pills of tramadol were intercepted in a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada expressway,” he stated.
“In Oyo State, a suspect was arrested with 71.2kg of skunk smuggled through the Oyan river, while in Kaduna, 586,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered along the Kaduna-Zaria highway,” he added.
He also noted that “in Taraba, a suspect conveying 77,660 capsules of tramadol was intercepted, while in Adamawa, six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8kg of tramadol in a truck.”
Babafemi said the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns nationwide.
“Commands and formations across the country sustained advocacy lectures in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities to reduce drug demand,” he said.
He conveyed the commendation of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), to officers involved in the operations.
“Marwa commended the officers and men of the various commands for their efforts and urged them to remain steadfast in maintaining a balanced approach to drug control through enforcement and preventive education,” Babafemi said.
