Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled attempts by members of drug trafficking organisations to move consignments of illicit substances to Europe. The substances, including methamphetamine and opioids, were concealed in carton walls, winter jackets, and body cream containers.
Intelligence surveillance led to the discovery of the shipments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja and a courier firm in Lagos. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, revealed in a statement on Sunday that two of the consignments heading to Italy were intercepted at the Lagos airport, where two suspects were promptly arrested.
Interceptions at Lagos airport
Friday Ehianuka, 37, was intercepted on Friday 20 March while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome. Operatives found 2,698 pills of 225mg tramadol concealed in skin light body cream containers within his luggage. Ehianuka, a resident of Milan, confirmed he was to be paid a negotiated fee in euros to traffic the consignment.
In a separate bust last Wednesday, Christian Agbonhese, 38, was intercepted at the departure hall of the Lagos airport. Agbonhese, who is also based in Milan, was attempting to board a Lufthansa Airlines flight. A search of his luggage revealed 23,150 pills of 225mg tramadol, 4,000 tablets of 250mg tapentadol, and 1,320 pills of 100mg tramadol hidden in two large winter jackets. In total, 28,470 opioid pills were recovered from him.
National raids and courier interceptions
At a courier firm in Lagos on Monday 16 March, officers intercepted two parcels containing 1kg of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, shipped from the United States. The NDLEA also thwarted an attempt to export 158g of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton destined for New Zealand.
Nationwide operations have also yielded significant results. In Kano, Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, and Uche Johnson Festus, 47, were arrested on 18 March with 102.5kg and 95.5kg of skunk, respectively. In Lagos, a raid on a store in the Otto area of Ijora led to the recovery of more than 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup. On the same day, Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara were arrested on the Third Mainland Bridge conveying 8,380 bottles of the same substance.
Regional enforcement and WADA initiatives
In the Federal Capital Territory, a search of a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada Expressway led to the recovery of 91,840 tramadol pills hidden in the vehicle’s body compartments. Aminu Ali, the 27-year-old driver, was taken into custody. Further seizures occurred in Oyo, Kaduna, Taraba, and Adamawa states, involving significant quantities of tramadol and skunk.
Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the officers for their bravery and commitment. He enjoined them to maintain a balanced approach to drug control efforts and charged all commands to continue their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, workplaces, and communities.
