Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have thwarted the efforts of drug cartels who attempted to compromise the security architecture of Nigeria’s main airports in Lagos and Abuja.
Giving a breakdown of the arrests and seizures, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi in a statement says, members of the drug cartel syndicates eleven of them have been arrested in connection with recent seizures at these two airports.
Beside the 11 suspects, he says, a 35-year-old physically challenged lady, Kasarachi Onumajuru has also been arrested.
According to him, the first arrested in connection to seizures at the two airports is Ofor Chima Chileobi who had on Friday 20th May attempted to export to Dubai, UAE, 200 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 30.20kg concealed in 40 sacks of bitter leaf through the SAHCO export shed, a cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
While on the same day, 10 cartons of khat leafs with a gross weight of 354.600kg were also seized at the NAHCO import shed of the airport.
The following day, a freight agent, Roland Orinami was arrested by NDLEA operatives attached to the local wing of the Lagos airport with1.90kg Loud, a variant of cannabis, factory packed in some bottles while trying to send same via flight to Abuja.
A follow up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of a taxi driver, Nsikak Evans sent to collect the consignment.
“His confession also led to the arrest of the actual owner, Adesanya Olakunle Isaac at his house in Life Camp area of Abuja. Adesanya who claims to be into Information Technology, accepted ownership of the seized drug, which he said was meant for an upcoming birthday party of one of his friends.”
He also disclosed that, another freight agent, Moshood Azeez Olaide was arrested at NAHCO export shed of the MMIA when he presented a cargo containing psychotropic substances heading to Dubai.
“The illegal consignment was packed into other items such as can drinks, liquid bitters and other non-controlled drugs. The seized drugs include Tramadol 225mg, Rohypnol and MDMA. A follow up operation led to the arrest of another suspect linked to the crime, Olagboye Selim on Friday 27th May.”
Also on the same day, operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service at NAHCO import shed transferred 15 cartons of khat leaf with a gross weight of 256.70kg, which came into the country on Royal Air Moroc to NDLEA command at the airport.
The previous day Babafemi says, another freight agent, Lasebikan Felix Gbega was arrested with 200 bottles of pentazocine injection, with a brand name “Drutapent” weighing 1.05kg heading to the United States of America.
At the SAHCO export shed, an agent, Akuta Chioma Lucy was arrested while attempting to export 14.75kg of khat concealed inside other vegetable leaves and food condiments such as bitter leaf, scent leaf, pepper, all packed in bags for shipment to the United Kingdom.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a 45-year-old Ezika Ugochukwu Nicholas was arrested on Thursday 26th May for ingesting 60 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.037kg on arrival from Addis Ababa on board Ethiopian airline.
By Nosa Aituamen
