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Amidst NDLEA onslaught, drug traffickers devise new methods for their trade

THE National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested many drug traffickers and foiled several attempts to import or export drugs into and out of the country in the last few months.

The success of the NDLEA has led to the drug traffickers devising various strategies to beat the operatives of the anti-drug agency at the airports.

The Commander, Narcotics, NDLEA, Ameh Inalegwu, stated that this year between January and May, the agency seized 3349.25kg of various drugs at Lagos Inland waterways alone. That is the weight of almost three small trucks or SUVs like the Kia Soul.

The ICIR examined recent activities of the NDLEA through their press releases and social media handles and observed that the drug dealers have now devised new ways to beat the agency’s security.

For instance, on April 17, 2022, Operatives of the NDLEA arrested Paschal Okolo and seized 4.1 kilograms of cocaine wrapped in tea bags. 

Okolo Ekene Paschal

Okolo was trying to bring substantial quantities of cocaine into Nigeria through the arrival hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA).

Also, in May, a Brazilian returnee, Nworie Phillip Chikwendu, was arrested on Tuesday, May 3, during an inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, en route from Doha to Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, during a thorough search of Nworie’s luggage, two parcels of cocaine were discovered concealed in a pair of brown slippers hidden in his oxblood backpack.

Nworie Chikwendu

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On May, 4,2022, The NDLEA disclosed that operatives of the agency at the SAHCO intercepted some cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to contain illicit drugs.

“A freight agent who brought the consignment for export to Dubai, UAE, Shola Ogunrinde, was immediately arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of a pregnant woman, Mrs Seun Babatunde, who operates an alcohol joint in the Pleasure area of Iyana Ipaja.

Seun Babatunde

“When the cartons were opened in the presence of the agent, and the pregnant owner, seven parcels of cannabis and a sachet of ecstasy drug (MDMA) were found concealed inside cans of alcoholic drinks.,” the statement said.

According to the NDLEA, another pregnant woman, Gloria Asibor, was arrested on May 5 while attempting to board a Turkish airline flight to Bolonia, Spain, via Istanbul, Turkey.

Asibor Gloria

“A search of her luggage containing food items led to the discovery of 300 tablets of 200mg and 225mg high dosage Tramadol concealed in crayfish,” the statement said



Meanwhile, a man suspected to be a methamphetamine (Mkpuru Mmiri) cook, Reuben Bekweri, 34, was arrested in Owerri while trying to distribute a kilogram of the drug he cooked and packaged in seven nylon sachets in the Irete Area of Imo state capital on Saturday, March 26.

The NDLEA also arrested  Ugochukwu Ekwem, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for alleged drug trafficking.




     

     

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    Ugochukwu Ekwem,

    In a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the suspect was arrested on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body.

    A Brazil returnee, Okechukwu Francis Amaechi, was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Port Harcourt International Airport for drug trafficking.

    Okechukwu Francis Amaechi

    A statement released by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said Okechukwu was arrested while trying to import 24 parcels of cocaine concealed in 12 tyres of lawnmowers through the airport.

    According to the statement, the suspect has just finished serving a jail term for drug trafficking in Brazil.

    Bankole Abe

    A reporter with the ICIR
    A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance

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