The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate that hid cocaine and loud in food flasks and snack packs for shipment to the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
The agency said its officers at the export shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks on April 9. The consignment, weighing 2.80 kilograms, was destined for the UK on a Virgin Atlantic flight.
Two cargo agents, Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were arrested at the airport. Further investigation led to the arrest of 52 year old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, identified as the sender of the shipment.
In a related operation at the airport’s import shed on April 8, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of loud, a potent strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms. The drugs were hidden inside snack food packs in cargo that arrived from the United States on a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were first arrested over the seizure. A follow up operation then led to the arrest of the consignee, 29 year old fashion designer Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, at Oba Ogunji Road in Ogba, Lagos, on April 13.
NDLEA operatives also made several large cannabis seizures in Kaduna, Cross River, Edo, Delta and Lagos states. On April 13, officers on patrol along the Kaduna Zaria highway at Gwargwaje intercepted a trailer carrying cement to Hadeja, Jigawa State.
A search of the truck uncovered 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, weighing 847 kilograms. The driver, 33 year old Umar Garba Haruna, was arrested.
In Cross River State, NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest at Uwet community in Akamkpa Local Government Area on April 16. They destroyed about 15,000 kilograms of skunk cultivated on six hectares of farmland and recovered 119 kilograms of processed cannabis. A 53 year old woman, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested at the scene.
Another cannabis farm was dismantled on April 14 at Saboro camp in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Operatives destroyed 2,281.43 kilograms of cannabis and arrested three suspects, Nweke Smart, 27, Christopher Egbe, 62, and Monday Ayan, 45. Christopher and Monday were found with 38.5 kilograms of cannabis and seeds.
In Delta State, NDLEA officers arrested Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, at the Powerline area of Okwo on April 17. They were caught with 87.838 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds.
The Lagos Command also intercepted pharmaceutical and cannabis consignments. On April 15, two suspects, Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu, were arrested at Mile 2 along the Lagos Badagry expressway while transporting 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck heading to Ghana.
That same day, NDLEA officers raided a two storey building at Petti on Lagos Island where they recovered 95.8 kilograms of skunk.
The agency said its commands nationwide also intensified War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week. Beneficiary institutions included Alfurgan Islamic School in Niger State, Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School in Cross River, Heritage Model School in Kogi, Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School in Katsina, Government Senior Secondary School in Kano and De Ambassador Secondary School in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended officers in MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna and Lagos Commands for their efforts. He praised the balance between major drug seizures and continuous public sensitisation and urged personnel across the country to sustain the momentum.
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