Meth, Cocaine Consignments In Machine Cylinders, Auto Parts Intercepted At Lagos Airport

By Bukar BOLORI

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates leading to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of nine kingpins in series of intelligence-led interdiction operations, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said on Sunday.

Babafemi, in a statement, said in one of such operations, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra state when they showed up to take delivery of 5.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; 10.7 kilogrammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis; 16 grammes of cocaine; 200 grammes of phenacetin; 200 grammes of methcathinone and 100 grammes of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.

He disclosed that the first to show up at a logistics company in Onitsha for the collection of the consignments was 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Uzochukwu who was promptly arrested while shortly after, another member of the syndicate 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Ndibuisi showed up and was equally arrested.

He said the consignments had arrived the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with airway bill number 118-12882973 arriving from South Africa on a Tag-Angola flight on 13th November 2025 and was immediately seized based on credible intelligence, adding that a follow up sting operation was thereafter organized in Onitsha, Anambra state where the recipients: Uzochukwu and Ndibuisi were arrested.

In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocainewith a gross weight of 2.3 kilogrammes packed among other auto parts going to Gabon.

Babafemi said following the arrest of a freight agent Ameh Solomon who presented the consignment for export, a follow up at ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Lagos led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu.

In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives last Monday intercepted a trailer conveying 4,700 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis at Kabba. Three suspects: Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi accompanying the consignment were arrested while a follow up operation in Jos, Plateau state last Friday led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin who owns the trailer and the illicit drug consignment, Marcus Mangu.

Babafemi said a couple: 55-year-old Onun Okoi Okpotum and his wife 52-year-old Itam Okoi Okpotum were last Wednesday arrested at their warehouse located at 13 Park road, Ugep Yakur local government area, Cross River state where 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706 kilogrammes were recovered.

In Edo state, two women; Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Oghosa, 25, who specialize in the production and online sale of brownies laced with illicit drugs were on Saturday arrested in Benin city. At the point of their arrest, Praise Nwogu, was said to have been found with 12 plates and a cup of drug-laced brownies laced while Ebong Oghosa, was nabbed with 76 grammes of skunk, 1.5 grammes of Colorado and drug-laced brownies.

A raid at Ososo village, Akoko Edo local government area last Tuesday led to the arrest of 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu, who was found with 59 kilogrammes skunk.

Operatives on patrol along Enugu/Onitsha road, Enugu State last Wednesday intercepted a suspect Chinoso Monday, 24, conveying 10.1 kilogrammes skunk; 105,600 pills of tramadol 250mg, 225mg and 100mg as well as 700 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3000 rounds of live ammunition.

In Kebbi state, 13,155 bottles of codeine-based syrup were evacuated from a warehouse located at Dole-Kaina, Dandi local government area, while a 23-year-old suspect Umar Adamu was arrested with 12,548 pills of opioids concealed in paracetamol containers heading to a Boko Haram enclave in Mainok area of Borno state last Friday.

Two suspects: Anthony Mercy, 40, and Sunday Augustine, 39, were last Monday arrested with 430.5 kilogrammes by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abaji- Abuja expressway in the FCT, while Samson Dafe, 47, was arrested at Dikko junction, Kaduna road, Tafa local government area, Niger state last Tuesday conveying 85,100 pills of opioids and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup in his Sharon vehicle marked ABJ 114 BV.

Babafemi said the premises of a suspect Sani Mohammed in Anguwan Makera Kuta, Shiroro local government area last Thursday raided with 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8 kilogrammes recovered.

In Lagos, a suspect Usman Adegoke was arrested in connection with the seizure of139 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 71 kilogrammes at an apartment in Lekki while a lady Oluchi Celestine was last Tuesday nabbed in Lekki with 2.6 kilogrammes Colorado packaged in branded containers and some concealed in flight boarding cards.

The spokesman said acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives supported by some military personnel last Monday raided the notorious Peti illicit drug enclave, Lagos Island where 385 kilogrammes of skunk, Loud and Colorado were recovered and two suspects arrested.

No less than 163,200 capsules of tramadol 225mg were also recovered in another operation at a motor park in Maza Maza area of Lagos.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Justifying the current heavy crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates, the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said the coming festive season is usually a period often exploited by criminal elements, hence the agency has decided to launch a relentless offensive on drug trafficking cartels across the nation.

He said. “The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”