NDLEA records largest cocaine seizure at PortHarcourt airport
- Intercepts N5b worth of tramadol at Lagos, Abuja, Edo Arrests 7 drug dealers in Kano
By Paul Michael, Defence Editor, Abuja
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has recorded the largest cocaine seizure at the Port Harcourt International airport.
The spokesperson of the commission, Femi Babafemi disclosed this on Sunday while stating that one Nnanna Anayo Michael, a 39 year old Brazilian returnee who hails from Ekwusigo in Anambra state was arrested with 73 sachets of cocaine weighing 8.15 kilograms, The Trumpet gathered.
“At the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, a Brazilian returnee Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March. Nnanna who hails from Ekwusigo, Anambra State was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kilograms of cocaine, which is the largest seizure of such at the airport, since it began international flight operations years ago.
“During preliminary interview, Nnanna said he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday midnight en route Qatar to Port Harcourt. He claimed an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. The 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets. Five of the bed sheets contain 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets.
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“An immediate follow up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick the drug from Nnenna. He was arrested at the airports carpark where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latters photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passports Data Page in his hand,” Babafemi stated.
In another development, Babafemi stated that over N5 billion worth of Tramadol and Extol 5 were seized by the commission a Lagos airport, Abuja and Edo state.
He noted that at the Murtala Muhammed International airport, no fewer than 219,400 tablets of Tramadol weighing 6,384.5kg, with an estimated value of over N4.6 billion were recovered by the Nigeria Customs Service and handed over to NDLEA. Adding that 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted at Abaji, Abuja.
“No less than 9.5 million tablets of pharmaceutical opioids: Tramadol and Exol 5 worth over N5billion have been seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo state by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS.
“Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated street value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday 29th March alongside 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs to the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.
