Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom of food flasks destined for the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment, with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms, was intercepted on Thursday 9th April by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport. Two cargo agents involved in the export bid – 33-year-old Ama Obinna Ufeim and 39-year-old Ogabi Monday Akorede – were swiftly arrested.
Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment. He was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud – a potent strain of cannabis – with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms. The drugs were concealed in snack food packs and had arrived from the United States aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, 29-year-old fashion designer Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April.
Major Forest Raids Yield Massive Drug Destruction
In Cross River state, a 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa Local Government Area. A staggering 15,000 kilograms of skunk spread across six hectares of farmland were destroyed, while a further 119kg of the same substance was recovered.
Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of the psychoactive substance. Three suspects – Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45 – were arrested, with Christopher and Monday caught in possession of 38.5kg of cannabis and its seeds.
Meanwhile, in Delta state, two suspects – Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39 – were nabbed with 87.838kg of skunk and seeds at the Powerline area of Okwo on Friday 17th April.
Trailer Interception And Lagos Raids
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday 13th April intercepted a trailer carrying cement bound for Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver, 33-year-old Umar Garba Haruna, was arrested.
In Lagos, two suspects – Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu – were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2 on the Lagos-Badagry expressway while transporting 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck bound for Ghana. On the same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg of skunk was recovered.
WADA Sensitisation Continues Nationwide
Commands and formations of the Agency across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities. These have included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School in Paiko, Niger state; Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School in Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School in Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School in Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School in Rano, Kano; and De Ambassador Secondary School in Epe, Lagos state.
Marwa Commends Officers
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands for the arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted their efforts in balancing drug supply reduction with WADA sensitisation activities. He charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
