NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests Other Suspects
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two major cocaine consignments cleverly concealed in cosmetics and official documents en route to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The seizures were made at a Lagos courier company by NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) following credible intelligence.
Spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that 420 grams of cocaine were found packed in 84 lipstick tubes intended for the UK, while another 280 grams were hidden inside a Certificate of Occupancy meant for Saudi Arabia.
In a coordinated follow-up, NDLEA operatives dismantled a major drug cartel led by a notorious kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, alias “Warri Kinsman.” The suspect and three associates were arrested in Lagos on June 28, while 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, weighing 414.2kg, were recovered from a warehouse in Ayobo.
In another breakthrough, a five-member drug syndicate operating from a family home in Ojo area of Lagos was apprehended. The group, led by businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife Rosemary, was initially arrested with 277.5kg of cannabis. A follow-up raid yielded another 231kg, leading to the arrest of their daughters and an associate.
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At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a traveller, Aburemi Hysent, was caught with 7,660 pills of tramadol hidden in food items en route to Italy. He confessed to being promised €800. Separately, 52 fake travellers’ cheques amounting to AU$17.7 million were intercepted in children’s books destined for Malaysia, leading to the arrest of a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed. The suspect has been transferred to the EFCC for investigation.
NDLEA also made several successful operations across other states:
Seme Border, Lagos: 718 cannabis wraps (359kg) seized.
Kogi: Intercepted 10,000 pills of opioids and 1.05kg of “Colorado”; 3 suspects nabbed in Abuja.
Osun: 62,106 opioid pills recovered in multiple arrests; 9.67 hectares of cannabis farm destroyed in Oke-Ila.
Borno: 167kg of skunk recovered in Gamboru-Ngala.
Kano: 452kg cannabis seized in Gadar Tamburawa.
Kaduna: 11,000 tramadol pills recovered from Sule Ibrahim Sadiq.
Sokoto: 62-year-old suspect caught with 4,800 tramadol pills.
Kebbi: 312kg skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets seized in Yauri.
Taraba: 49,930 tramadol capsules seized; two suspects arrested.
Edo: Wanted cannabis farmer, Alaba Monday, arrested with 115kg of drugs.
Cross River: 78-year-old Mike Abeng arrested with 14.49kg of skunk; others also arrested in Obubra.
In line with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, the agency also carried out sensitization campaigns in Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, and Borno.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their diligence and called for sustained efforts in both drug supply suppression and demand reduction strategies.
By PRNigeria
