The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine concealed in female cosmetics and forged property documents going to United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
According to the spokesman for the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi in a statement the NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered 420 grams of cocaine ingeniously concealed in 84 pieces of lipstick destined for the United Kingdom.
In a separate consignment, 280 grams of cocaine were found hidden within a certificate of occupancy, en route to Saudi Arabia and both seizures were made at a courier logistics company in the state.
Mr. Babafemi also revealed that, the agency also dismantled a major drug syndicate led by a notorious trafficker, Ajetsibo Emami, popularly known as “Warri Kinsman.”
Following a three-day sting operation in Ikeja, Emami was arrested alongside three other suspects.
Seized from the gang were 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing over 414 kilograms. NDLEA intelligence revealed the syndicate was planning to distribute the illicit cargo from Lekki to other parts of Lagos and the country.
While further investigations led to the arrest of businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary, their daughters Stella and Ngozi, and family associate Okoro Elijah.
The family, accused of operating an extensive drug distribution ring in Lagos, was first picked up by the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo with over 277 kilograms of skunk.
Th statement adds that, days later, during a follow-up raid, NDLEA operatives recovered another 231 kilograms of the substance from the family’s warehouse.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, NDLEA officers intercepted a frequent flyer, Aburemi Hysent, who attempted to smuggle 7,660 pills of Tramadol (225mg and 200mg) hidden in food items bound for Italy.
He confessed he was promised €800 for the successful delivery.
Another interception at the Lagos airport uncovered counterfeit traveler’s cheques worth AU$17.7 million, stashed in children’s books and headed to Malaysia via Istanbul.
A freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, was arrested in connection with the forgery and has been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen