Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered 442 parcels of Crystal Methamphetamine concealed in heads of fishes packed in cartons for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
The 11.90kg consignment was brought to the SAHCO export shed of the airport on Friday, 5th August by a freight agent, Adekunle Oluwapelumi Paul, 32, from Yagba West LGA, Kogi State.
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Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday in Abuja that Paul was promptly arrested upon the discovery that the seven cartons he presented for export contained parcels of the dangerous drug wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish.
“The next day, Saturday 6th August, another consignment containing 1.45kg cannabis concealed inside granulated melon and crayfish and packed among other food condiments going to Dubai, UAE was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives who arrested the freight agent, Ajisefini Lateef, that presented the cargo for export at the SAHCO shed. The 39-year-old agent is from Abeokuta West LGA, Ogun State,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State have arrested 50-year-old Mgbeobuna Victor Eberechukwu for ingesting 77 pellets of cocaine.
Eberechukwu was arrested on Saturday, 6th August after his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia onboard an Ethiopian airline flight.
The suspect who hails from Idemili South LGA, Anambra State passed out the 77 wraps of the illicit drug in eight excretions spanning four days.
In Kaduna State, three suspects, Saifullahi Sani, Salisu Nafi’u and Abdulrazaq Mamman, were arrested in Zaria on Thursday, 11th August with 1,112,350 tablets of Tramadol (225mg and 100mg) weighing 38.3kg.
Also in Kano State, a female drug dealer, Saratu Abdullahi, 28, from Wurno council area of the state was nabbed at Hotoro with 541 blocks of cannabis weighing 245kg.
Moreso, again in Lagos State, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,773.25kgs of cannabis Sativa at Ebutte-Meta and Akala in Mushin areas of the state in separate raid operations between the 9th and 10th of August.
At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, 86 parcels of cannabis Indica (Colorado) weighing 43kgs were recovered from a 40ft container during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.
The illegal consignment seized on Friday 12th August came from Toronto via Montreal, Canada and was concealed in two drums inside a Mercedes Benz SUV in a container.
In Abia State, two suspects, Nnanna Ijo, 58; and Orji Uguru, 29, were arrested on Friday 12th August with various quantities of cannabis, heroin and cocaine at Nde-Agbai, Abiriba, a week after Nnanna was released from detention over a similar offence committed in June.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Tincan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Abia commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to always remain steps ahead of the drug cartels.
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