NDLEA thwarts attempt to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia, Italy

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has thwarted an attempt by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia.

The cocaine had been packed into the charges before NDLEA operatives discovered the packages at a courier firm in Lagos. 

A similar bid to send 500 grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was equally aborted in another logistics company by NDLEA officers on August 3, while a consignment of 2.3kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States was intercepted in another shipping company in Lagos on August 4.

Meanwhile, NDLEA officers on patrol along Akure-Ilesha expressway on August 4 intercepted a truck heading to the North with 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts. 

Two suspects: Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, transporting the consignment were arrested, while a total of 147kg skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid operation on August 3.

In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence on August 3 raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, where they recovered 731.03 kilograms of illicit substances and arrested a suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, while her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is at large. 

In a similar operation in Edo State on August 5, operatives, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West LGA. 

While a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by powerline base in Osisioma LGA, Abia State, where 7kg of skunk was seized on August 6, a notorious wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was on August 8 nabbed at the fibre market drug jungle, Badagry, Lagos after a three-month manhunt for him. 

As at the time of his arrest, 88.5kg of skunk was seized from him.

A total of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis weighing 309.4kg were discovered during a joint examination of a 40ft container by officers of the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies on August 4 at the Tincan port complex Lagos. 

A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places, and communities among others in the past week. 

These included WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State, while the Rivers State Command of the NDLEA paid an advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖