NDLEA APPREHENDS EUROPE-BOUND DRUG BARONS
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s operations have prevented drug syndicates from exporting large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids to the UK, Italy, Turkey, and Qatar via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
On November 5, 2024, NDLEA officers stopped 13 packages of cocaine weighing 4.40 kg that were on their way to the UK via Frankfurt aboard a Lufthansa Airlines flight at the Lagos airport’s export shed.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that Ekeocha Nelson, a businessman connected to the shipment, was located and taken into custody on November 8.
Babafemi added that another businessman, Adegbite Solomon, was detained and the drugs were found in him when he attempted to export 7,800 tramadol pills, among other things.
He said, “The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of Rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, November 11, when the NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into the logistics business.”
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Babafemi noted that another businessman, Anoke Roomy, was arrested with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey, at the Lagos airport on November 15.
He added, “Following credible intelligence, the NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the agency on Friday, November 15, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.”
Babafemi claimed that Emmanuel Okeke, a trans-border drug trafficker, was apprehended during an attempt to transport drugs into Ghana as part of another intelligence-led operation.
He claimed that the suspect’s Toyota Hummer Bus, which belonged to GUO Transport Company, had cocaine hidden in its body compartments.
Babafemi said, “Officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, November 16, foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke, to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to the GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at the Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while coming from Ghana.”
In Edo State, Babafemi said no fewer than 997kg of cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.
“While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to the Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of the same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at the Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday November 14,” he added.
In Kwara State, he said the NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA.
“While Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo State on Thursday, November 14. A total of 563.74 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” he concluded.
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