NDLEA smashes drug trafficking syndicate, seizes ₦12.3bn cannabis at Lagos port

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 4,959 kilograms of Canadian loud cannabis valued at N12.397 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos and dismantled a criminal syndicate accused of planting illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting interstate travellers.

The anti-narcotics agency also arrested a businesswoman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after allegedly discovering 7.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a false compartment of her luggage as she prepared to board a flight to Beijing, China.

The agency disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, its director of media and advocacy.

According to the statement, 38-year-old Iwebema Ogechi Peace was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on June 21 following intelligence reports.

“A search of her check-in luggage led to the discovery of four large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom professionally created in her bag. The parcels of the Class A drug found hidden in the bag have a combined weight of 7.5 kilograms,” the statement said.

NDLEA said operatives monitored the container carrying the Canadian Loud shipment for more than four weeks before intercepting it during a joint inspection involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port on June 23.

“A total of 4,959 kilograms of the illicit drug consignment worth N12,397,500,000 in street value was recovered,” the agency stated.

The agency explained that the 40-foot container, which also carried two vehicles, departed Toronto on April 25, transited through Montreal and Morocco, before arriving in Lagos under surveillance.

In a separate operation, NDLEA said it uncovered a syndicate that concealed narcotics inside the luggage of unsuspecting passengers travelling by road.

The breakthrough came after operatives intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi, Anambra State, to Abuja and recovered 467.7 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a passenger’s luggage.

According to the agency, the passenger, Gloria Peter, denied ownership of the drugs, prompting investigators to arrest loaders at the motor park in Nnewi.

“The loaders revealed that the drug package was put into the woman’s bag by one of them on the directive of the driver of the bus, Abdurrazak Isah.

“His revelations made the driver open up and mention one of his passengers, Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, as the actual owner of the drug. Onyebuchi was then picked up at Utako, FCT, during another follow-up operation,” the statement added.

Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at Iddo Motor Park in Lagos with 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud cannabis allegedly bound for Enugu State.

The agency also arrested two Beninese nationals, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside a Nigerian, Jackson ThankGod, after intercepting a truck conveying illicit drugs from Togo through the Benin Republic.

“A thorough search of the truck led to the recovery of 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment of the vehicle,” the statement said.

In another operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, operatives arrested Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo with 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck travelling to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Two other suspects, Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, were also arrested in Amukoko, Lagos, with 28.8 kilograms of skunk. Investigations revealed that Rashidat’s residence was allegedly being used as a storage facility for illicit drugs before distribution.

Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the commands for sustaining the agency’s crackdown on drug trafficking.

Marwa said the officers had maintained “their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities,” urging them “not to rest on their oars.”