TheNewsGuru

Tag: Cocaine

  • NDLEA intercepts Europe-bound Cocaine at Lagos airport

    NDLEA intercepts Europe-bound Cocaine at Lagos airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled attempts to export large consignments of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ephedrine to Dubai and Europe.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the drugs were intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Babafemi said that the drugs were discovered by NDLEA operatives despite various disingenuous modes of concealment by the desperate drug cartels.

    He added that all those behind the efforts to export the illicit drugs were arrested.

    Babafemi said top on the list of those so far arrested in connection with the seizures was a Nigerian based in Athens, Greece, Iwuozor Edward Chinedu.

    According to Babafemi, Chinedu was disembarked from an Ethiopian airline flight on Friday after NDLEA officers in the tarmac intercepted two bags during a secondary check at the foot of the aircraft.

    “When the bags were searched in the presence of Chinedu and other airport stakeholders, two big pellets wrapped with foil papers and some sprinkles of pepper were recovered from each of the two sides of one of the bags.

    “The pellets were used to construct false walls at the sides of the bag. The two parcels contained substances that tested positive to cocaine and heroin with a gross weight of 1.30kgs and 900 grams respectively.

    “Chinedu claimed he came to Nigeria three months ago to do a surgery, which he was not comfortable doing in Athens. He further claimed he was given the bag to deliver in Greece for a fee of two million naira,” Babafemi said.

    The NDLEA spokesman also said operatives at the export shed of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company of the airport on Jan. 30, arrested a pregnant woman, Mrs Gloria Onome.

    Babafemi said that the arrest came after 800grams of skunk were discovered concealed in two small radio sets she was sending to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

    “On the same day, operatives also intercepted a consignment going to Congo Kinshasa containing 111 bottles of body cream that were used to conceal 24.50kgs of ephedrine, a chemical precursor and active ingredient to produce methamphetamine.

    “The cargo was later traced to a trader at Alaba trade fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos, Onyekachukwu Uduekwelu after the initial arrest of two freight agents.

    “Another housewife, Mrs. Victoria Okpara was arrested at her residence at 37 Obashola street, Ijesha area of Lagos on Jan. 27, following the seizure of 300 grams of skunk hidden in a bag of crayfish she was sending to Dubai, UAE through a freight agent,” he said.

  • NDLEA Nabs Brazil returnee with 105 parcels of cocaine in candies

    NDLEA Nabs Brazil returnee with 105 parcels of cocaine in candies

    A Brazil returnee known as Agbasi Prosper Chux, was intercepted by operatives of the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for being in possession of 105 parcels of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The illicit drugs were concealed in candieshe brought from the South American country.

    They suspect was arrested at the D arrival hall of the MMIA during inward clearance of passengers from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on Qatar Airways.
    NDLEA Director of Media and advocacy, confirmed the arrest via a statement on New year day.
    He said nothing incriminating was found during an initial search of the suspect’s two checked-in bags.
    The NDLEA officers then took a second look at the duty-free shopping nylon bags containing packs of candies he was holding in his hands.

    Babafemi said: “A thorough examination of the duty-free shopping bags revealed the packs of candies inside were actually used to conceal 105 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.8 kilograms and 43 grams of cannabis.

    “Preliminary test conducted on a plastic bottle of body lotion also found in possession of the suspect also tested positive to cocaine with a total weight of 472 grams.

    “Married to a Brazilian lady with a daughter, Prosper who claimed to be into clothing business in Brazil was hoping to sell the drug in Enugu, his state.”

    The agency said three other traffickers were arrested by operatives with a total of 256 kilograms of illicit substances.

    The drugs were seized from them during interdiction operations in Kwara, Kogi and Niger states in the past week.

    “While a team of NDLEA officers on stop and search duty along Ilorin- Jebba highway on December 26 arrested a suspect, Idris Saeed, 19, with 60 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 30kgs, their colleagues in Niger on similar operation along Jebba-Mokwa road also recovered 240 blocks of the same substance weighing 168 kilograms, from multi-colour sacks loaded in a Peugeot J5 bus, with registration number MAG 146 XA, coming from Lagos and going to Kano for delivery.

    “In Kogi, operatives intercepted a truck coming from Onitsha, Anambra State to Maiduguri, Borno along Okene-Abuja highway where 9,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection (42kgs) were recovered.

    “In the same vein, a suspect, Ibrahim Jibril, 20, was arrested on the same route with 40 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 16kgs coming from Lagos to Jigawa in a Toyota Hiace commercial bus on December 27.”

  • JUST IN: NDLEA arrests wanted kingpin

    JUST IN: NDLEA arrests wanted kingpin

    Operations of a major cocaine syndicate in Lagos have been disrupted with the arrest of a 56-year-old trafficker, Lawal Oyenuga, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    NDLEA’s spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated in Abuja on Sunday that the suspect was on a mission to deliver 400 grams of the “Class A’’ drug when he was nabbed.

    Babafemi stated that the drug was concealed in a pair of black palm sandals packed in a luggage en-route Jeddah via an Ethiopian Airways flight.

    A thorough examination of the sandals revealed they were used to conceal two parcels of cocaine weighing 400 grams.

    He added that there was also a swift follow-up arrest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Nov. 24 of a wanted notorious kingpin, Wasiu Sanni popularly known as “Teacher’’.

    Sanni recruits mules for the Lagos drug cartel.

    “This is barely a week after a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, Mrs Sidika Ajisegiri was arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic 400 grams of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

    “She was scheduled to board a Qatar Airways flight with the drugs concealed in her footwear,’’ Babafemi stated.

    According to him, the suspect claimed she was recruited to traffic the drug by Sanni popularly known as “Teacher’’.

    “She claimed that she was first given some pellets of cocaine to swallow but when she couldn’t do that, she was given the choice of concealing those found in the palm sandals.

    “She said she resorted to the criminal trade to raise money to pay an examination fee for her daughter in Senior Secondary School Class 3,’’ Babafemi stated.

    He added that NDLEA’s database showed that Sanni had been linked to some previous attempts to traffic cocaine to Saudi Arabia and to Dubai.

    He stated also that Sanni was earlier named as the one who recruited a BRT driver, Bolajoko Babalola for a Lagos socialite and hotel owner, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem) to traffic drugs to Dubai.

    “Babalola was arrested on June 27 while taking 900 grams of cocaine to Dubai while Kazeem was nabbed on Thursday, Nov. 10, 10 days after he was declared wanted by the NDLEA.

    “A follow-up operation in the early hours of Nov. 25 led to the arrest of the kingpin, “Teacher’’ at his residence in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    “Teacher’ specialises in recruiting mules for drug barons in Lagos and its environs. The 64-year-old Sanni is a housing and property agent, with seven children and four wives, one of whom is now deceased,’’ he stated.

    Babafemi added that in another follow up operation, Hopewell Chukwuemeka, owner of seized 1.1kg of Indian hemp concealed in bottles of body cream headed for Dubai was arrested in Port Harcourt.

    Chukwuemeka, arrested on Nov. 24 runs a boutique business in the Rivers capital city, he stated.

  • BREAKING: Cocaine warehouse busted in Lagos, N193bn worth of crack seized

    BREAKING: Cocaine warehouse busted in Lagos, N193bn worth of crack seized

    In what appears to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos where 1.8tons (1,855 kilograms) of the illicit drug worth more than Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($278, 250,000) equivalent of about One Hundred and Ninety Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Five Million (N194, 775,000,000) Naira in street value were seized.

    At least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos state. Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica. They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the Agency has been trailing since 2018.

    Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, according to a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.

    The statement reads in part “Preliminary investigation reveals the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.

    “While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration, (US-DEA), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the bust is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed”.

  • Back from Ethiopian prison, ex-convict arrested with cocaine at Lagos airport

    Back from Ethiopian prison, ex-convict arrested with cocaine at Lagos airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an ex-convict, Onyeka Madukolu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, for importing 5.90 kilograms of cocaine.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in cans of deodorants and ladies’ lip gloss and were imported into Nigeria.

    He said that the suspect was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Ethiopia for drug trafficking offences and released from prison in 2020.

    He added that he was again arrested on Friday at the Lagos Airport on his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

    He also added that a search of his luggage revealed he had concealed 5.90kg cocaine inside cans of deodorants and female lip gloss.

    “During preliminary interview, he claimed to have gone into the drug business to raise fresh capital to start a legitimate business after his release from Ethiopian prison in 2020.

    “The father of two kids, one each from a Nigerian woman and a Brazilian lady, said he was into motor spare parts business before going into the criminal trade.

    “The 44-year old indigene of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra, said he was expecting to be paid N2 million on successful delivery of the illicit drug in Nigeria,” he said.

    https://twitter.com/FemiBabafemi/status/1571480862855667713

    NDLEA intercepts 26,600 bottles of psychoactive substance ‘Akuskura’ in Kano, arrests producer

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged notable producer of new psychoactive substance, popularly called Akuskura with 26,600 bottles of the illicit substances.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that the suspect was arrested on Sept. 13.

    Babafemi said the suspect, Qasim Ademola, was arrested by anti-narcotic officers with the Akuskura substances meant for distribution across Northern states.

    He said that the consignment was seized on Sept.15 along Zaria-Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, Kano.

    He added that the 39-year old proprietor from Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State and three of his distributors, were arrested in follow-up operations.

    In another development, NDLEA operatives intercepted a drug trafficker, Chukwu Kingsley on his way to Rome, Italy on an Asky Airline Flight.

    Babafemi said that a search on his luggage showed he had concealed among food condiments 11,460 tablets of tramadol 225mg with a gross weight of 5.7kg and 39 bottles of Codeine Syrup.

    He said that the 49-year old suspect was a known haulage agent who hailed from Oru West Local Government Area of Imo.

    Also at the Lagos airport, a freight agent, Lawal Adeyemi, was arrested same day for attempting to export some sachets of lexotan, among other non-controlled drugs to Liberia.

    Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives however, equally seized 593.90 kilograms of khat leaf at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) import shed of the airport on Sept. 15.

    This he said, was after a joint examination of the cargo by a combined team of security agencies.

    Babafemi said the Chairman, NDLEA, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the command and their counterparts in Lagos and Kano for their vigilance and resilience.

    Marwa charged them and others across the country, to remain focussed as they daily discharge their responsibilities.

    NDLEA impounds 18 pump action guns, 2,300 cartridges in Kogi

    NDLEA impounded  a Peugeot J5 vehicle loaded with 18 pieces of pump action rifles and 1,300 cartridges in Kogi on Saturday.

    The vehicle took off from Onitsha in Anambra and was heading to Zaria in Kaduna State when it was intercepted on the Okene-Abuja Highway.

    NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that two suspects found in the vehicle, Chukwudi Aronu, 51, and Shuaibu Gambo, 23, were arrested.

    He added that also on Saturday, one Anthony Agada, 37, conveying 1,000 ammunition cartridges to Abuja from Onitsha was nabbed in a bus.

    He stated also that 1,404 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,040 ampoules of pentazocine injection were seized from another vehicle which also took off from Onitsha and was heading to Sokoto.

    Babafemi added that the arranged receiver of the drugs, Stanley Raymond, 39, was arrested in Sokoto, while the sender, Shadrack Ifediora, 46, was simultaneously arrested in Onitsha.

    Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, a drug dealer, Mohammed Dalhatu aka Dawa, was arrested at Sabon Gari, Zaria with eight bags of Indian hemp weighing 67kg.

    Another suspect, Maikudi Hassan, was arrested at Gubuci village in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State also with five bags of Indian hemp weighing 54.2kg.

    “On Thursday Sept. 15, operatives also arrested Mary Ugwu and Hawwa Idi, at Anchau town in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State with 721 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 37,000 tablets of Exol-5 and nine ampoules of diazepam injection as well as 6.8kg of rubber solution.

    “In Edo, NDLEA recovered 285kg of Indian hemp in two raids at Okpuje, Owan West Local Government Area, on Friday Sept. 16.

    “In Lagos, 972.5kg of Indian hemp was recovered from an electronics shop at Alaba Market and one of the suspects, Mrs Ebere Aja, 38, was arrested.

    “Not less than 335.1kg of Indian hemp was also seized in a raid at Kwanar Kundum area of Bauchi town, where two suspects, Usman Garba and Najib Ibrahim, were arrested,’’ Babafemi stated.

    Babafemi quoted NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as directing that the arms and ammunition impounded in Kogi be hand over to the police for further investigation.

  • 53-year-old excretes 92 wraps of cocaine at Abuja airport

    53-year-old excretes 92 wraps of cocaine at Abuja airport

    A 53-year-old Brazilian returnee, Okolie Nwabueze, has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly importing 92 wraps of cocaine.

    This is even as Nwabueze, a father of two, ingested the drugs and eventually excreted them after days under observation in the Agency’s facility.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said that the suspect who hailed from Mmaku village, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was arrested on Sept. 2.

    The arrest was upon his arrival on Qatar Airline flight enroute Brazil-Doha-Abuja.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said that the suspect claimed to have left Nigeria to Mozambique in 2004 and finally relocated to Brazil in 2017.

    This, he added, was where he obtained a residence permit before deciding to import the illicit substance for a $4,000 fee.

    In the same vein, a 42-year old man, Aliyu Kwasare, was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, (MAKIA), Kano.

    Babafemi said that the suspect was caught for attempting to export a consignment of new psychoactive substance, “Akuskura”, to Saudi Arabia.

    He said that the suspect, an indigene of Kware LGA Sokoto, who lived in Goron Dutse area of Kano, was arrested on Sept. 5.

    He said arrested during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight to Riyadh.

    In another development, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, no fewer than 1.099 million tablets of Tramadol (225mg) have been seized.

    Babafemi said the drugs were intercepted through inter-agency collaboration between NDLEA and the Nigerian Customs.

    “The pharmaceutical opioids packed in 50 cartons weighing 2,058.90kg, were imported from Pakistan via Addis-Ababa on Ethiopian Airways.

    “The consignment was concealed among other non-controlled pharmaceuticals.

    “Also, a freight agent, Aliyu Abubakar, was on Friday arrested at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the airport.

    “The arrest was over an attempt to export a consignment of cannabis concealed inside bottles of Caro white body lotion, ” he said.

  • Returnee from Brazil arrested with cocaine in private parts

    Returnee from Brazil arrested with cocaine in private parts

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazilian returnee with pellets of cocaine concealed in his private parts.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.

    Babafemi stated that the suspect was arrested at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    He stated that the suspect was nabbed on June 20 upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa.

    He added that the suspect had swallowed 50 wraps of cocaine before departing Brazil and excreted 48 pellets in Addis Ababa where he handed them over to another person.

    According to Babafemi, the suspect was unable to excrete the remaining two wraps at the hotel room in Addis Ababa before boarding his flight.

    “He later excreted them in the aircraft restroom during the flight from Ethiopia to Lagos,’’ Babafemi stated.

    Meanwhile, two drug kingpins behind the smuggling of two drug consignments from Canada concealed in vehicles containers through the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA’s operatives.

    Babafemi stated that one of them was arrested at his house in Idi Araba area of Lagos on June 22.

    The suspect was arrested for importing a 40ft container carrying 33 parcels of “Colorado’’ weighing16.5kg.

    Babafemi added that the second suspect, popularly called Otunba, was arrested on Thursday for his role in the smuggling of 290 parcels of “Colorado’’ weighing 145kg from Montreal, Canada.

    The drugs were concealed in four vehicles shipped into Nigeria in a 40ft container.

    “He had been on the run since March and had in the course of investigation attempted to bribe NDLEA officers with N10million to influence the case,’’ Babafemi stated.

  • KUJE PRISON: How Abba Kyari escaped assassination by 190 inmates

    Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has escaped assassination by enraged inmates and offered N200,000 bribe to each of them after they accused him of insincerity in bribe-for-release transactions while in active service.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that prison officials are considering shifting Kyari to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).

    According to a source, the attack occurred on May 4, months after Kyari, who is on trial for drug-related offenses, was remanded.

    An official noted that his assailants numbered over 190 people, the majority of whom were incarcerated for narcotics offenses.

    Before his arrest, Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police, was a decorated cop and the head of the Inspector-General Police’s Special Intelligence Response Team.

    First, he was suspended from police duty after being named as a collaborator in Ramon Abbas – Hushpupi’s international fraud and money laundering conspiracy, dubbed by American investigators last July.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused him of being involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy in February, while he was on suspension awaiting the outcome of an internal investigation.

    Kyari appeared to be outlining his use of his team to promote drugs and discussing the distribution of criminal riches in a video provided by the agency.

    It was gathered that the Kuje assailants claimed Kyari prosecuted them despite taking bribes from them.

    Kyari was characterized as a “dodgy criminal” by one of the sources, a state investigator and intelligence official revealed.

    The suspended police officer has never been convicted of a crime and maintains his innocence in the allegations against him.

    Informants maintained that Kyari was “eliminating lesser (drug) traffickers to clear the field for Afam Ukatu,” a suspected billionaire drug lord linked to Mr Kyari’s N3 billion Tramadol deal.

    “Inmates said that after being arrested, Kyari wanted money to drop the case, but that he nevertheless prosecuted them.”

    However, a spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, disputed that Kyari was attacked.

    Meanwhile, officials with firsthand knowledge of the attack, as well as internal records from the service, confirmed the attack.

    Kyari was rescued by officials, according to our sources, and is now being held in a separate cell “under heavy protection where no one sees him for fear of attack or poisoning.”

    He had to pay each of the dissatisfied inmates N200,000 in “first settlement payments” and then “purchased DSTV subscriptions for cells to buy loyalty and tranquillity,” according to one source.

    DCP Abba Kyari leading his men during an operation

    However, Enobore, who speaks for the correctional service, said, “I am not aware Abba Kyari paid anybody to secure his safety in prison.”

    Kyari is alleged to have amassed wealth far in excess of his fair earnings by inverting his role as a law enforcement officer and involving in illicit activities.

    In April, NDLEA said they marked properties in Borno, Kano, Lagos, and Abuja ‘linked’ to the disgraced officer.

    Despite the ‘settlements’ the aggrieved inmates have continued to threaten Mr Kyari’s life, sources said.

    “Regardless of the level of protection, they vowed to get him. The inmates have given him an ultimatum to return all he extorted from them or be killed.

    “Relevant officials have assessed that he will be killed or badly injured if he continues to be remanded in Kuje,” a source said.

    An official recommendation has therefore been made that Kyari should be transferred out of Kuje to an SSS facility.

    “So far, he has every relevant officer on his payroll. They do his bidding, he sees his wife, and he has access to mobile devices and marabouts,” one source added.

  • NDLEA intercepts N1.1bn travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg cocaine at Lagos airport

    NDLEA intercepts N1.1bn travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg cocaine at Lagos airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted travellers’ cheques in various foreign currencies of over an N1.1billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, of the agency, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said that at least, one suspect, Oguma Uchenna, had been arrested in connection to an attempt to export the cheques.

    These cheques, he said, were neatly concealed inside four bound hardcover books, disguised as academic project literature, to the United Kingdom.

    He said that the financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered on April 27, at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the Lagos airport.

    He explained that the discovery was made during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.

    “A breakdown of the cheques shows they have monetary values of two hundred and eighty-seven thousand, six hundred and twenty-three dollars, thirty-one cent ($287, 623.31)

    “One million, four hundred and fifty-six thousand, three hundred Canadian dollars ($1,456,300) and One million, two hundred and ninety-seven thousand, eight hundred (1,297,800) euros.

    “This is with a total value of one billion, one hundred and fifty-seven million, six hundred and seventy thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine Naira and ninety-two kobos (N1,157, 670,469.92),” he said.

    In the same vein, operatives of NDLEA at the airport had foiled attempts by drug traffickers to smuggle into the country, 10.89 kilograms of cocaine, through a Qatar Airways flight.

    Babafemi said that the illicit drug was hidden in seven children’s duvets, packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil.

    He quoted the chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of the MMIA, for the seizures and arrests in the past week.

    Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country, to remain steadfast and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.

  • NDLEA intercepts cocaine in 3 states, arrests 7 traffickers

    NDLEA intercepts cocaine in 3 states, arrests 7 traffickers

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled attempts by Brazil-based drug cartels to smuggle large consignments of cocaine into Nigeria through three international airports.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said the three airports were Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos International Airports, adding that the operatives also arrested seven traffickers.

    According to him, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on April 9.

    He said, “three of them were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.

    “The three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil, on board same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96 kilograms of cocaine.

    “The first is 51-year-old Udogwu James Johnson who hails from Orlu LGA, Imo state.

    “He was arrested with 5.48kg of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1million.”

    According to Babafemi, also arrested is Ezekwueme Valentine, 32, from Aguata LGA, Anambra, who was caught with 10.82kg cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets.

    “The third trafficker, Chiezie Arinze, 35, from Dunukofia LGA, Anambra, was arrested with 8.66kg cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver colour 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top.

    “The fourth suspect, Uchechukwu Onwugbufor, 42, from Idemili North LGA, Anambra, was arrested at the airport car park while waiting to receive one of the traffickers, Udogwu James and his consignment.

    “He claimed he was contacted by someone in Brazil to receive Udogwu and lead him to Lagos for a fee of N100, 000.

    “Onwugbufor was at the Airport with his neigbour, Nwogu Ezimadu, who is equally being investigated to determine if he’s complicit in the crime or not,” he said.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said a psychology graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, Sebastine Kelvin, 30, was arrested with 74 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.454kg at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

    Babafemi said he was arrested on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight enroute Doula-Addis Ababa-Abuja on April 13.

    He said the father of one who claimed he was a motor spare parts dealer was from Ezeagu in Ezeagu LGA, Enugu State.

    He also said the suspect claimed he lived in Cameroon for six years before going into the drug business to raise money to boost his trade.

    “He said he was introduced to the man who gave him the drugs in Addis Ababa by another person serving jail term for drug offence at the Doula Newbell Prison,” he said.

    Babafemi said another Brazil based passenger, Uba Samuel, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by NDLEA operatives on April 15.

    He said the suspect was arrested on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Sao Paulo via Addis Ababa to Lagos with sachets of cocaine weighing 633grams concealed in his footwear and toothpaste tube.

    “The suspect who claims to be a shoemaker and barber hails from Umunneochi, Abia state.

    “While accepting ownership of the drug, he said he used his shoe making knowledge to conceal the drug in his pair of sandals.

    “Uba who is a regular traveller confessed he bought the drug to sell at a market in Abia,” he said.

    Meanwhile, more illicit substances were recovered in raid operations in other parts of the country.

    Babafemi said operatives arrested one Hassan Usman with a total of 22,110 tablets of Tramadol, D5 and Exol 5 in Gadaka village of Fika LGA, Yobe.

    He said one Ali Mohammed was also nabbed in a commercial vehicle coming from Kano to Maiduguri with 40 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg.

    “Also arrested on the Kano-Maiduguri route was a driver, Ibrahim Khalil, Idris with 60 packets of Tramadol, all on Tuesday April 12.

    “In Kogi, 750 blocks of Cannabis weighing 750kg were seized from two suspects: Hassan Adamu, 25, and Abdulmalik Abdullahi, 24, along Okene-Abuja highway.

    “The drug exhibits were concealed inside fabricated panels of a Ford bus,” he said.

    Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd.) as commending the officers and men of the agency.

    Marwa commended them for disrupting desperate attempts by drug cartels to traffic dangerous drugs into Nigeria and across the country.

    He said the huge seizures at the airports would send a strong message to drug barons that Nigeria would no longer be their safe destination or transit route.