PICTORIAL: NDLEA seizes US, UK-bound drug in automobile parts, cloths

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, in a nationwide operation, seized multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy-duty automobile pivot shafts, Ghanaian fabric, Kente, and other items.

This was made known in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and shared on the agency’s website on Sunday. Suspect

The agency disclosed that it also intercepted 2.32kg of cocaine at a courier firm in Lagos, and recovered 10.494kg of cocaine at the same logistics company.

The statement read, “Multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy duty automobile pivot shafts, and Ghanaian fabric, Kente, among others have been recovered in a nationwide intelligence-led operation by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

“While 2.32kg of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday, August 5 2024, 10.494kg of same class A drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814kg.”

According to the agency, other seizures included 517 grams of cocaine, pentazocine injection, promethazine injection, cocodamol pills, and tramadol pills.

The agency also recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 10kg.

The statement added, “In the same vein, five other consignments going to the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday, August 9, 2024. They include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.

“In a different logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10kg coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.” Suspect

In another operation, the NDLEA arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, with 9kg of cocaine.

Two other members of a cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra State, were arrested with 2.865kg and 1.748kg of cocaine, respectively.

The statement added, “While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town”

The agency also intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, weighing 265.25kg, and 75 parcels of the same substance, weighing 37.5kg, at Tincan seaport, Lagos. Suspect

The statement said, “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday 7th August intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.

“The seizure was made during 100% joint examination with men of Customs Service and other stakeholders. The following day, Thursday 8th August, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613, that came from Canada.

In Adamawa State, 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 291.200kg, were seized.

“In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, August 8 with the support of men of operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.200kg in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM. He claimed he was bringing the consignment from Edo state to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.

“Additionally, 1,169kg of cannabis was recovered in Lagos, and 1,230.00kg of cannabis was destroyed in Kogi Sate.

“While two suspects: Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Tuesday, August 6 with 29.5kg cannabis, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 1,169 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid road, Ajah on Sunday, August 4. Suspect

The NDLEA arrested several suspects, including the owner of the cannabis farm, Danjuma Maji.

The statement revealed, “No less than 1,230.00kg cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland at Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/ Odolu LGA, Kogi state on Friday 9th August by NDLEA officers supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested.”

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to continue their fight against drug cartels.