By Damilare Adeleye
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the interception of 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who stated that the cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday by operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport.
Consequently, two cargo agents allegedly involved in the export bid, Ama Obinna Ufeim (33) and Ogabi Monday Akorede (39), were swiftly arrested.
“Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation,” the NDLEA spokesperson said.
Similarly, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms.
According to Babafemi, the illicit drugs were concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
“Two cargo clearing agents: Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April,” the statement added.
In addition, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway, on Monday, intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state.
Babafemi revealed that 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms were recovered from the truck, while a 33-year-old- driver, Umar Garba Haruna, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.
“Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds. Two suspects: Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday 17th April.
“In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered,” the statement added.