NDLEA arrests cannabis importer, others

By Blessing Wika, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a major importer of Loud variant of cannabis from the United States of America, Abibu Afis Sola.

He was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.

In the statement, Babafemi revealed that Sola was arrested in connection with a 19.30kg Colorado consignment from Los Angeles, USA, which was intercepted on June 30, 2022 at the NAHCO cargo import shed of the Lagos airport.

A freight agent, Elizabeth Njoko, 37, has also been arrested for attempting to export 250grams of Tramadol and cannabis to Dubai, United Arab Emirates through the NAHCO export shed.

The drug exhibits were concealed inside some gallons of palm oil and honey, which were packed among food items and hair attachment.

Also at the Lagos airport, 249,600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg have been recovered from a shipment from India at the SAHCO import shed of the MMIA.

The consignment that arrived from India via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline flight on August 4, 2022 was eventually evacuated on August 17, 2022 as an abandoned seizure.

An Italy-bound passenger, Oziengbe Ehighalua Andrew, 55, was on August 19 arrested with 600grams of Tramadol 200mg while attempting to board Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy, via Casablanca.

In the same vein, seven cartons of khat leaf with a total weight of 295kg have been seized at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport.

The consignment came into Nigeria from Tanzania through Cairo on Egypt Air.

Operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation in the NDLEA attached to courier firms have intercepted 11.36kg heroin and cannabis packaged for UAE, Netherlands and Omar.

The drugs were concealed in dictionary, fancy light and body cream.

In Niger State, 139 bags and 176 compressed blocks of cannabis loaded in Ogere, Ogun State and heading to Zaria, Kaduna State were seized by NDLEA operatives in Suleja, Niger State along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from a company vehicle, while the driver, Sani Mohammed, 44, and his assistant, Abubakar Abubakar, 30, were arrested.

Raids carried out in Akala, Mushin area of Lagos State also led to the arrest of Pelumi Goodness and Ola Funke, while over 1,171.75kg cannabis and 29 litres of codeine syrup were recovered.