THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested no fewer than 11 members of drug trafficking syndicates in connection with different seizures made in the past few weeks.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement by its spokesperson Femi Babafemi, disclosed that in addition to the 11 suspects arrested, a 35-year-old physically challenged lady, Kasarachi Onumajuru, who hides under her condition to deal drugs in the Umudumaonu community, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State was also apprehended on May 29.
Ofor Chima Chileobi was arrested on May 20 while attempting to export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 200 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 30.20kg concealed in 40 sacks of bitter leaf through the SAHCO export shed, at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“On the same day, ten cartons of khat with a gross weight of 354.600kg were also seized at the NAHCO import shed of the airport. The following day, Saturday 21st May, a freight agent, Roland Orinami, was arrested by NDLEA operatives attached to the local wing of the Lagos airport with1.90kg Loud, a variant of cannabis, factory packed in some bottles while trying to send same via a flight to Abuja,” the statement said.
Babafemi said a follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of a taxi driver, Nsikak Evans, who was sent to collect the consignment.
“His confession also led to the arrest of the actual owner, Adesanya Olakunle Isaac, at his house in the Life Camp area of Abuja.
“Adesanya, who claims to be into Information Technology, accepted ownership of the seized drug, which he said was meant for an upcoming birthday party of one of his friends,” the statement added.
According to the NDLEA, on May 24, another freight agent, Moshood Azeez Olaide, was arrested at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA when he presented a cargo containing psychotropic substances heading to Dubai.
The illegal consignment was allegedly packed into other items such as can drinks, liquid bitters and other non-controlled drugs. The seized drugs include Tramadol 225mg, Rohypnol and MDMA.
In a follow-up operation, the agency said it arrested another suspect linked to the crime, Olagboye Selim.
Also arrested was another agent, Akuta Chioma Lucy, while attempting to export 14.75kg of khat concealed inside other vegetable leaves and food condiments such as bitter leaf, scent leaf, and pepper, all packed in bags for shipment to the United Kingdom.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a 45-year-old Ezika Ugochukwu Nicholas from Ichida, Anocha area of Anambra State, was arrested on May 26 for ingesting 60 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.037kg on arrival from Addis Ababa on board Ethiopian airline.
Ezika, who claims he was into shoe business before his arrest, travelled to Ethiopia on May 23 on the invitation of the person who gave him the drug, which he ingested before returning to the waiting arms of NDLEA officers at the Abuja airport.
A reporter with the ICIR
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