NDLEA ARRESTS LAGOS BUSINESSMAN OVER ALLEGED COCAINE SHIPMENT TO UK
Read Time:2 Minute, 51 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, for allegedly attempting to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food cartons destined for the United Kingdom.
Chinedu, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on July 23 after NDLEA officers intercepted the cocaine consignment at the export section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a day earlier.
According to a statement issued by the agency, investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—who handled the shipment.
Their arrest subsequently led operatives to Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment for export. Further investigations identified Chinedu as the suspected leader of the trafficking network.
READ MORE…
UK PM BURNHAM VOWS TO PUT BRITAIN FIRST IN DEALINGS WITH TRUMP
The agency said he was apprehended while allegedly attempting to dispatch another cocaine consignment to the UK.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of a 2.80kg consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
The agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over ₦2.2 billion, during a joint cargo inspection at the Lagos airport. The consignment, which arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight, was intercepted on July 24 based on intelligence gathered by the agency.
In another seizure, NDLEA operatives recovered a shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap intended for export to the United Kingdom at a courier company in Lagos.
At the Apapa Seaport, officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg and valued at more than ₦7.1 billion. The illicit drugs were hidden inside three vehicles loaded into a shipping container.
In Katsina State, operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani during a patrol in Baure, Safana Local Government Area, where he was allegedly found with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, including 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, also 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers allegedly discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red palm oil.
The NDLEA said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, a raid on a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, led to the recovery of 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds.
During the operation, officers also arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, with 60kg of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was apprehended with 13kg of the substance.
The agency added that its commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), as well as personnel from the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina commands, for the successful operations and urged them to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0