The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two Brazil returnees and a businesswoman at the Lagos airport for trafficking hard drugs, while also intercepting multiple illicit shipments across states.
Spokesman Femi Babafemi said 46-year-old Ofoma Sunday was caught on September 16 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after a body scan confirmed he ingested drugs. Under observation, he excreted 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.45kg.
A follow-up operation at a hotel in Amuwo Odofin led to the arrest of 55-year-old Nweke Jude Chukwudi, sent to collect the consignment.
Another returnee, Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu, was arrested on September 19 during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers from Brazil.
He excreted five wraps of cocaine weighing 145g. He confessed he had bought nine wraps in Brazil but disposed of some mid-transit after suffering severe anal pain.
In a separate incident, NDLEA operatives and Aviation Security officials arrested Okolonkwo Ebere Theresa on September 14 for attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha with 1.40kg of methamphetamine concealed in butt pad underwear.
The agency also made major seizures at the NAHCO export shed, where 2.3kg of meth hidden in food items bound for Hong Kong was intercepted on September 15, while 257g of cocaine concealed in phone chargers going to New Zealand was seized at a courier company on September 18.
Nationwide, NDLEA operations turned up large hauls:
Adamawa - Over 233,800 tramadol pills seized in three raids.
Zamfara - 1,099kg of cannabis (skunk) recovered from a truck driver.
Yobe - Two suspects caught with 14,000 tramadol capsules.
Taraba - A 28-year-old nabbed with 25.5kg of skunk.
Edo - Two cannabis farms covering 4.5 hectares were destroyed, with an estimated yield of over 11,000kg.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the operatives, describing the busts as “a significant milestone in our determined effort to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
“These arrests and seizures are proof of our resolve to protect the youth population and safeguard Nigeria’s image globally,” Marwa added.
