Ben Ezechime, Enugu
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has thwarted attempt by a drug suspect, Igboma Ifeanyi to export quantities of Loud, a variant of Cannabis, Tramadol and Rohypnol.
NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said that the illicit drugs weighing 7.8kg were concealed in 66 bottles of skin lightening lotion.
Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested by the operatives while preparing to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Muscat, Oman at the Lagos airport.
Also, another suspect, Ekpenisi Wisdom was equally arrested while trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Oman with 6.00kg skunk hidden in a bag of food stuff.
“A follow up operation led to the arrest of a staff of Toprano Hotel, Ikeja, Ibigbami Temitope Oluwatobi, who was fingered in the drug trafficking scheme.
“A consignment of 5.70kg codeine syrup going to the United Kingdom was also on Thursday July 27 seized from a 51-year-old widow, Adewunmi Atinuke, by NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA Ikeja,” he said.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NACHO) export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya.
Babafemi said that a search of the consignment revealed that various quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy) popularly known as ‘Molly’ and Rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuff.
He said that the NDLEA operatives arrested an agent, Onydem Chinwe who presented it for export.
Equally, a consignment of 8.5kg skunk well concealed in a vehicle engine block going to Dubai, UAE was intercepted by the NDLEA operatives.
Babafemi said that the consignment was intercepted on Tuesday July 18 by the officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI) , attached to courier companies in Lagos.
He quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the MMIA commands as well as those of DOGI for their resilience and commitment.
According to him, Marwa charged them and their counterparts in other Commands to remain undaunted by the various machinations of drug cartels and barons.