Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an Uber driver and two other suspected traffickers with different quantities of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said the Uber driver, Lawal Tunde Rasheed, was arrested at the SAHCO export shed of MMIA on Tuesday 8 June 2021, when he brought a consignment from his client to a freight forwarder for export to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
According to him, when the package was searched, 150grams of cocaine concealed inside two pieces of air freshener were discovered.
“A follow-up operation the following day led to the arrest of Egbo Emmanuel Maduka, in his residence on Wednesday 9 June.
“Investigations have so far confirmed that Egbo is behind the two seizures of 50grams of cocaine in hair attachment and another 150grams of cocaine concealed in air freshener, heading to Malabo.
“The seizures were made on 4 and 8 June 2021 respectively.
“Also on Friday, 11 June 2021, a male passenger, Udogwu James Johnson, on Qatar Airlines from GRU in Brazil was arrested at D-arrival hall, MMIA, Lagos with nine wraps of cocaine that weighed 300grams in his pant,” Babafemi said.
In a related development, a 27-year-old final year Petroleum Engineering student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Ali Mohammed, was arrested with 3.032kg of cannabis Sativa at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos, following a tip-off on Thursday 10 June 2021.
Under interrogation, Ali who hails from Nguru, Yobe State, but brought up in Lagos, claimed that while on his way to the motor park in Iddo, from Obalende where he lives, he met an acquaintance, Ahmed who upon learning that he was travelling back to ATBU, Bauchi via Kano implored him (the suspect) to help deliver a travel bag containing the seized 3.032kg of cannabis Sativa to one Ugo who lives in Sabon Gari, Kano.
Ali claimed that Ahmed told him that he would send Ugo’s phone number to him through SMS to facilitate the delivery of the consignment when he arrives Kano.
The suspect, who, admitted knowing that the bag contained drugs, however, denied receiving or being promised any form of gratification for agreeing to take the drugs to Kano.
Responding, the Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the MMIA and Lagos state commands of the agency for the feats while charging them not to rest on their oars.
He also asked them to remain vigilant and intensify the ongoing offensive action against all drug cartels in their areas of responsibility.
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