Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a physically challenged woman, Kasarachi Onumajuru, and 11 others.
A statement on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the 35-year old lady who was arrested on 29th May, 2022, was hiding under her condition to deal in illicit drugs in Umudumaonu community, Mbaitoli local government area of Imo state.
The statement also said 11 other suspects where arrested after their attempt to beat security at the Lagos and Abuja Airports with large consignments of assorted substances failed.
“Several attempts by agents of drug cartels to break through the security at Nigerias main airports in Lagos and Abuja with large consignments of assorted illicit substances have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
“No fewer than 11 members of the trafficking syndicates have been arrested in connection to the seizures,” the statement said. It explained that Ofor Chima Chileobi was first to be arrested after he attempted to export to Dubai, UAE, 200 blocks of can- nabis sativa weighing 30.20kg concealed in 40 sacks of bitter leaf through the SAHCO export shed, a cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on May 20.
“On the same day, 10 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 flight to Abuja.
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“A follow up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of a taxi driver, Nsikak Evans sent to collect the consignment. His confession also led to the arrest of the actual owner, Adesanya Olakunle Isaac at his house in 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.
In another development on May 24, another freight agent, Moshood Azeez Olaide was arrested at NAHCO export shed of the MMIA when he presented a cargo containing psychotropic substances heading to Dubai. According to the statement, “The illegal consignment was packed into other items such as can drinks, liquid bitters and other non-controlled drugs. The seized drugs include Tramadol 225mg, Rohypnol and MDMA.
A follow up operation led to the arrest of another suspect linked to the crime, Olagboye Selim on Friday 27th May. “Also on the same day, operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service at NAHCO import shed transferred 15 cartons of khat leaf with a gross weight of 256.70kg, which came into the country on Royal Air Moroc to NDLEA command at the airport.”
Similarly, another freight agent, Lasebikan Felix Gbega was arrested with 200 bottles of pentazocine injection, with a brand name “Drutapent” weighing 1.05kg on May 23rd.
The consignment was said to be heading to the United States of America. Also, on May 26, another agent, Akuta Chioma Lucy was arrested at the SAHCO export shed while attempting to export 14.75kg of khat concealed inside other vegetable leaves and food condiments such as bitter leaf, scent leaf, pepper, all packed in bags for shipment to the United Kingdom.
The statement further revealed that “At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a 45-year-old Ezika Ugochukwu Nicholas from Ichida, Anocha area of Anambra state was arrested on Thursday 26th May for ingesting 60 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.037kg on arrival from Addis Ababa on board Ethiopian airline. “Ezika who claims he’s into shoe business before his arrest travelled to Ethiopia on 23rd May on the invitation of the person who gave him the drug, which he ingested before returning into the waiting arms of NDLEA officers at the Abuja airport.”
In the same vein, efforts by drug cartels to export 4kg methamphetamine concealed in nylon rolls to New Zealand were also frustrated by anti-narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos. The officers also blocked different quantities of cannabis sativa and Tramadol hidden in soles of slippers from being shipped to Oman through the same firm. Meanwhile, no fewer than 335,820 tablets of Tramadol, Exol 5, Diazepam and Rohypnol as well as 400 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in bags of vegetables have been intercepted in Abuja in a hummer passenger bus coming from Enugu on 30th May.
“The bus driver, Augustine James, 35, is currently helping investigation,” the statement said. It added, “In Imo state, 1,111kg of cannabis sativa heading to the Orlu forest, which has become a fortress for non-state actors, was intercepted on Thursday 26th May.” Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of NDLEA for sustaining the heat on drug cartels.
