A 19-year-old student, Benjamin Daberechi has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for attempting to export 7.2 kg of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for studies.
The 19-year-old student was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Wednesday, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, explained that the suspect had during an interview with the operatives claimed he was heading to Cyprus.
He said a white substance found in his luggage tested positive for Methamphetamine.
The statement explained, “While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.”
He disclosed that a field test of the substance, however, proved positive to Methamphetamine.
He further revealed that a female lawyer identified as Ebikpolade Helen was arrested after operatives had recovered 5kg of cannabis and 12 bottles of skuchies in her Lekki apartment.
He said that the Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Helen, who specialises in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids, and black currant, was arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.
Babafemi added that operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday, July 11, intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.
Based on intelligence, the statement stated that the agency had requested a 100% examination of the container which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14, saying that a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, and other stakeholders on Tuesday, July 11, however, led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicle spare parts.
The statement explained that attempts to export various quantities of illicit substances through courier companies were equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations in Lagos, pointing out that 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were seized at a courier firm.