Desperate efforts by drug cartels to export different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine and Cannabis to London, United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos have been scuttled by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy in a statement on Sunday said the narcotic officers of the Agency made the seizures during an outward routine clearance of cargo at NAHCO export shed of the airport.
According to him, the Operatives on Thursday intercepted 20 parcels of Cocaine weighing 1.2kg concealed in packets of Zee black soap; 23 parcels of Heroin weighing 1.4kg hidden in packets of Zee black soap and 39 parcels of 2.35kg Methamphetamine concealed in Dudu -Osun black soap packets.
He said few days earlier, October 21, a similar cargo had been intercepted also at the NAHCO shed of the MMIA, where 7.35kgs of Cannabis concealed inside some tablets of Dudu Osun black soap were recovered.
Babafemi disclod that no fewer than three suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the seizures.
Also the agency has arrested a nursing mother, Mariam Adetilewa Dirisu barely a week after she was arrested and granted bail for attempting to smuggle drugs concealed in cassava flour meal called akpu into NDLEA cell for a suspect in custody.
Dirisu who claims to be a part-time 400-level student of International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Benin, was re- arrested for trafficking in 5kg skunk and 8.1grams of Molly.
The 35-year-old mother of a 2 month-old-baby was first arrested on 21st October by the Edo state Command of the Agency.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) had on the same day directed that she be counselled and released immediately because of the young baby she was carrying.
Curiously, a controlled delivery operation carried out by operatives of the Delta state Command of the Agency on Saturday 30th October again led to the arrest of Mariam who had ordered for the drugs from Lagos even while still on bail for an earlier offence.
In Ondo state, no less than 1,645kilograms of cannabis were seized in three interdiction operations in parts of the state.
Operatives had on 28th October stormed Emure cannabis farm camp where 313kilograms of cannabis were seized and seven suspects: Paul Godwin; Michael Nnaji; Ezugu Lucky; Omolu Sunday; Simon Taiwo; David Udofia; and M. Suleiman arrested.Operatives had the previous day raided the Ipele-Idoani forest where 534kgs of abandoned compressed cannabis were recovered just as a total of 798kilograms of cannabis were seized from two suspects;
Also recovered from them
include a white Mercedes Benz truck Lagos LSR 06 XW and monetary exhibit of N20, 000.
Raids at three black spots in Oshodi, Ikeja and Ogba areas of Lagos State on 23rd October have led to the arrest of a 15-year-old female SS II student of Idi – Araba Senior High School, Walaka Adams, who was arrested at No. 72 Mafoluku Road, Oshodi, with 100 grams of cannabis sativa; Sodiq Ganun, a 24-year-old wielder with 200grams of cannabis at the same address and Tajudeen Azeez, arrested at Ipodo, Ikeja, with 9 grams of Cocaine.
At a drug joint in Ogba area of Ikeja, different quantities of abandoned drugs such as Molly, Rohypnol and Codeine based syrup were recovered.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Delta, Ondo, Kogi and Lagos Commands of the Agency for not resting on their oars, Gen. Marwa charged them and their counterparts in other Commands to remain resolute in the ongoing efforts to cut access and availability of illicit drugs across the country.
