• As NDLEA intercepts 2.4 million tramadol pills in Gombe
By Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - In a significant development in Nigeria’s war against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspects, a businesswoman and an auto parts dealer, in separate incidents involving the attempted export of opioids and cocaine. These seizures took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and were bound for the United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville.
Ibadan Businesswoman Arrested Over UK-Bound Codeine, Rohypnol Shipment
A statement today by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters disclosed that on Friday, September 6, 2024, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport intercepted a consignment destined for the United Kingdom. A meticulous search revealed a staggering 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70 kilograms and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol hidden within cartons of foodstuffs. The shipment was presented by freight agent Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, who was promptly arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who revealed that his mother, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, a 58-year-old Ibadan-based businesswoman, had sent him the consignment from Ibadan. On September 7, Mrs. Adewunmi was arrested at her business location, where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo exports. She has been implicated in similar drug exports, with Owojori confessing to receiving over ₦2 million for previous shipments handled for her.
Auto Parts Dealer Conceals Cocaine in Custard
In another operation, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, intercepted a shipment of auto spare parts and containers of checkers powder custard en route to Congo Brazzaville via Ethiopian Airlines. Upon inspection, 300 grams of cocaine were discovered concealed in the custard containers.
This discovery led to the arrest of Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer based at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Ora is now in NDLEA custody, facing charges related to the trafficking of illegal substances.
Arrests in Ongoing Operations Targeting Drug Syndicates
The NDLEA has also made strides in apprehending individuals involved in drug smuggling through body ingestion. Two brothers, Ikechukwu and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, were arrested on September 10, 2024, for sponsoring drug traffickers. Their arrest followed the earlier apprehension of Onitsha-based businessman, Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, who was caught attempting to board a flight from Lagos to Abuja with 68 wraps of cocaine.
In a similar case, 54-year-old Paul Okwuy Mbadugha was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while attempting to board a flight to Vietnam on August 12, 2024. After four days of observation, he excreted 88 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.71 kilograms.
Seizures Across Nigeria: Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Lagos, and Ekiti
In Gombe state, a major operation on September 14, 2024, resulted in the interception of 2.49 million tramadol pills hidden in bags of salt. The suspects, Auwal Abdullahi, Isah Rabiu, and Abubakar Da'u, were arrested while traveling along the Bauchi-Gombe road in a DAF truck.
Other arrests were made in Kaduna, Ekiti, and Bauchi states, where various quantities of cannabis, tramadol, and diazepam were seized. Notably, NDLEA officers at the Tincan port in Lagos uncovered 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden in containers shipped from India.
Marwa commended the agency's officers for their dedication to the ongoing drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts. He urged them to maintain the momentum in the fight against drug-related crimes across the country.
These recent arrests and seizures by the NDLEA are part of the agency's relentless crackdown on drug trafficking networks in Nigeria. With increased vigilance at airports, seaports, and across various states, the NDLEA is making significant strides in disrupting the supply chains of illicit drugs.
