The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs worth more than N5 billion at ports in Lagos and Rivers State, while also arresting a businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.80kg of cocaine to Italy.
The 38-year-old suspect was arrested on September 27 at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He was reportedly preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan when NDLEA operatives stopped him.
According to the agency, 16 parcels of cocaine were discovered hidden inside the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes. Another 195 wraps containing the substance were allegedly concealed inside the railings of four travelling bags.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine hidden in the shoes.
He also allegedly said the cocaine in the travelling bags was meant to be delivered to a business partner in Italy.
The suspect reportedly claimed that the money used to purchase the cocaine came from compensation he received after suffering an injury while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
N372m Loud Seized at Apapa Port
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies intercepted 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg.
The consignment, estimated to be worth N372 million, was allegedly concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.
The container carrying the drugs had reportedly been shipped from Bangkok, Thailand.
Major Drug Seizure at Onne Port
In Rivers State, NDLEA officers subjected two containers placed on the agency’s watchlist to a joint examination at the Onne Port.
One of the containers contained 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg, which officers found inside a travelling bag and three vehicles.
A second container was found to contain 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup with a combined weight of 16,440kg.
The agency said the container carrying the codeine syrup had originally moved from India to Saudi Arabia before being shipped onward, with its origin history allegedly deleted while in Saudi Arabia.
The combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments seized at Onne was estimated at N833.2 million.
N3.8bn Canadian Loud Intercepted in Lagos
At the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers on September 29 intercepted another container shipped from Montreal, Canada.
The container contained 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg.
The drugs, valued at more than N3.8 billion, were allegedly hidden inside a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags.
Cannabis Farm Destroyed in Osun
NDLEA operations also continued in other parts of the country.
In Osun State, operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk cultivated on a cannabis farm covering 8.0936 hectares in Area 4 of Ife South Local Government Area.
In Lagos, 209,000 tablets of tramadol were recovered from an unoccupied compound in Ago Palace.
A follow-up operation at Ladipo Spare Parts Market also resulted in the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect.
The agency said the suspect, Taiwo, was linked to the recovery of 61 grammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grammes of methamphetamine.
The substances were allegedly concealed in a bottle of an energy drink and sent as a waybill package through a commercial bus.
Methamphetamine Seized in Kogi
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commuter bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway.
Two sachets containing 1kg of methamphetamine were recovered from the vehicle.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, a 29-year-old suspect, in Utako, Abuja.
In Plateau State, a 41-year-old suspect was arrested in the West of Mines area of Jos North following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.
More Arrests in Edo, Plateau
NDLEA officers also raided the residence of a 35-year-old suspect in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where they recovered 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.
On the same day, another 23-year-old suspect was arrested at Auchi Bypass in Benin City.
According to the agency, officers recovered 59 grammes of Loud, 12 grammes of Colorado, 19 grammes of tramadol, 16 grammes of methamphetamine, four grammes of Swinol and four grammes of Molly from the suspect.
The agency also announced the arrest of a 47-year-old man identified as Idris, six years after he allegedly jumped bail in a drug trafficking case before the Federal High Court in Jos.
NDLEA Continues Drug Awareness Campaign
Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency said its commands across the country continued with sensitisation programmes under its War Against Drug Abuse campaign.
The programmes were held in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities as part of efforts to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the recent operations.
Marwa urged personnel to sustain intelligence-driven operations against drug trafficking networks while maintaining what he described as a balanced approach to drug control.
He called for enforcement efforts to continue alongside prevention, public education and sensitisation programmes.
Source: NDLEA.
