Nosa Aituamen
In a series of operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested multiple suspects and seized large quantities of illegal drugs in Lagos.
The agency’s efforts have disrupted a major cocaine trafficking ring and foiled attempts to smuggle cannabis into the country.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the agency launched a manhunt for an automobile spare parts dealer, Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, after a recent attempt to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.
Following the seizure of the cocaine consignment at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, swift contacts were made with Angolan authorities, who arrested the supposed recipient of the illicit drug.
Ubodoeze, Mr. Babafemi said, was subsequently tracked to his house in Ago palace way area of Isolo, Lagos, where he was caught trying to escape.
A search of his vehicle led to the recovery of a large quantity of phenacetin, a cutting agent for cocaine, while a digital scale used in weighing illicit drugs was recovered from his house.
In his statement, Ubodoeze admitted dealing in cocaine while selling motor spare parts at Ladipo market, Mushin area of Lagos.
He claimed that the supposed recipient of the illicit consignment in Angola alerted him to his arrest, prompting him to attempt to evacuate his house and flee from the area.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, intercepted a cargo of cannabis candies imported from the United Kingdom and meant for sale at a Kiddies Mart in Surulere, Lagos.
The consignment was seized upon its arrival as a consolidated cargo on Allied Airways.
The recipient of the shipment, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested after initial arrest of a freight agent.
Taylor claimed the consignment was sent to him by his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, to deliver to one Musurat Lawal, who operates the Kiddies shop owned by Alabi in Surulere area of Lagos.
NDLEA says, a follow-up operation at the shop led to the arrest of Musurat and two other suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, were arrested when their commercial truck was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at Shibiri area of Ojo, Lagos.
A search of the vehicle revealed 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 128kg, were concealed in the underbelly of the truck.
In another interdiction operation in Lagos, three suspects were arrested at Mosalasi junction, Mushin, with 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.
Mr. Babafemi stressed that, the arrests and seizures are a significant blow to drug traffickers and dealers in the country.