NDLEA Blocks Cocaine, Tramadol Shipments to Italy, 4 Other Countries
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted multiple attempts by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to smuggle illicit substances to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates.
The drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, and cannabis strains such as “Loud” and “Molly,” were cleverly hidden in prayer beads, female clothing, board games, and vitamin C bottles.
In a series of operations conducted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, and various logistics firms, NDLEA operatives arrested suspects and intercepted shipments concealed in unsuspecting items.
Among those apprehended was Jakpor Egware May, a 43-year-old businesswoman caught at the MMIA’s Gate ‘C’ departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy.
A search of her luggage uncovered 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and a parcel of skunk. She confessed to purchasing the drugs for resale in Italy.
Similarly, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, 60, was arrested at the airport’s export shed while attempting to ship 400 grams of skunk concealed in clothing to New York, USA.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, and Tramadol (365mg, 225mg) hidden in vitamin C bottles and female clothing bound for the US.
Other shipments, including 230 grams of cocaine hidden in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes, and packs of board games destined for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE, were seized between March 10 and March 12.
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According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Obafemi, the agency’s crackdown extended beyond Lagos, with major arrests and seizures recorded in Kano, Kogi, Kaduna, Kwara, Taraba, Osun, Abuja, and Abia states.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested Hassan Haruna, 40, in the Chalawa area with 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg.
Similarly, in Kogi, a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja was intercepted along the Kabba-Obajana highway with 58,300 tramadol pills.
Kaduna also witnessed multiple arrests, including Idris Hamza, 21, who was caught with 4,900 tramadol pills in Kachia, and Aminu Magaji, 25, who was found with 2,900 tramadol tablets in Hayin Banki, Kaduna North LGA.
In Kwara, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan were arrested along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway with 40,200 tramadol pills, while another suspect, Salisu Usman, was caught with 21,700 capsules of the same drug at Eiyenkorin expressway.
Other notable seizures included 15.77kg of skunk recovered from 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku in Taraba and 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud cannabis strains intercepted from a commercial bus in Osun.
Follow-up operations in Osogbo and Ile-Ife led to the arrest of nine suspects.
In Abuja, a 58-year-old suspect, Ade Esan (alias Pastor), was arrested along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol pills, while 26-year-old Usman Mohammed was nabbed in Wuse Zone 3 with skunk and cocaine.
Meanwhile, in Abia State’s Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, NDLEA operatives arrested 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu (alias Young Money) with 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis, 4 grams of cocaine, and N753,015 cash.
Reacting to the latest seizures and arrests, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the operatives’ efforts and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
By PRNigeria
