NDLEA seizes N12.4bn cannabis at Lagos Port, busts drug syndicate targeting passengers

n n

By Kingsley Omonobi

n

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 4,959 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at N12.397 billion in street value at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

n

The seizure followed more than four weeks of intelligence-led surveillance and was made on Wednesday, June 23, during a joint examination by officers of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, the Nigeria Customs Service, other security agencies and port stakeholders.

n

According to the agency, the container, which also contained a Ford and a Nissan vehicle, had been under surveillance since April 25, when it departed Toronto, Canada.

n

The shipment travelled by truck to Montreal, moved by rail before passing through Tanger Med Port in Morocco, where it was loaded onto another vessel on May 23. It arrived at Tin Can Port, Lagos, on June 4, was discharged the following day, and later transferred to Apapa Port, where it was intercepted.

n

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 38-year-old businesswoman, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Beijing, China, with 7.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of her suitcase.

n

The suspect, who claimed she frequently travelled to China to purchase goods for sale in Nigeria, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 following credible intelligence. A search of her luggage uncovered four parcels of cocaine professionally concealed in a false compartment.

n

The agency also uncovered a syndicate that allegedly plants illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers at motor parks.

n

The operation began after NDLEA operatives in Abuja, working with colleagues in Anambra State, intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi at Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory on June 20.

n

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a waybill package containing 467.7 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a black nylon bag placed in a sack of clothes bearing the receiver’s phone number.

n

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Mrs. Gloria Peter, at Utako Motor Park. She denied ownership or knowledge of the package.

n

Further investigation resulted in the arrest of bus loaders in Nnewi, where one confessed to placing the drugs in the woman’s luggage on the instruction of the driver, Abdurrazak Isah.

n

The driver subsequently identified one of his passengers, Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, as the owner of the illicit consignment. Okoye was later arrested in Abuja.

n

In another operation, operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos, with 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud, another potent strain of cannabis, concealed in a consignment bound for Enugu.

n

The agency also arrested two nationals of the Benin Republic, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside a Nigerian, Jackson ThankGod, after intercepting their truck on the Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos.

n

The suspects were transporting illicit drugs from Togo through the Benin Republic when the vehicle was stopped.

n

A search of the truck uncovered 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg hidden inside a specially fabricated compartment.

n

Similarly, Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while transporting 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck travelling from Ebute Ero, Lagos Island, to Onitsha, Anambra State.

n

In another raid in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, at No. 15 Olumokun Street, Amukoko, recovering 28.8 kilograms of skunk from them.

n

Investigations revealed that Helen allegedly stored her drug consignments with Rashidat before distributing them to customers.

n

Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide continued the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, places of worship, workplaces and communities.

n

The awareness programme reached Government Girls Science Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe State; Adesalu Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; Government Girls Secondary School, Badawa, Kano; School of Science and Islamic Studies, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Community Secondary School, Ezimo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, among others.

n

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended officers of the MMIA, Special Operations Unit, Apapa, FCT, Anambra and Lagos commands for the arrests and seizures.

n

He also praised their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction efforts with sustained anti-drug abuse sensitisation campaigns and urged them to remain steadfast in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.

n n