October 31, (THEWILL) – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted different quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis heading to London through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
This is even as the agency also arrested two fake security agents and a nursing mother, who was on bail for another drug crime
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the seizure and arrest, said narcotic officers of the agency had on October 28 during outward routine clearance of cargo at NAHCO export shed of the airport intercepted 20 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.2kg concealed in packets of Zee black soap, 23 parcels of heroin weighing 1.4kg hidden in packets of Zee black soap, and 39 parcels of methamphetamine weighing 2.35kg concealed in Dudu Osun soap packets.
On October 21, a similar cargo was also intercepted at the NAHCO shed of the MMIA, where 7.35kg of cannabis concealed inside some tablets of Dudu Osun soap were recovered.
Meanwhile, a nursing mother, Mariam Adetilewa Dirisu, who was arrested and granted bail for attempting to smuggle drugs concealed in cassava flour meal called ‘akpu’ into NDLEA cell for a suspect in custody has been rearrested for trafficking in 5kg of “skunk” and 8.1g of “molly” one week after she was granted bail.
The 35-year-old mother of a two month-old-baby, who claims to be a part-time 400-level student of International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Benin, was first arrested on October 21 by the Edo State Command of the agency.
Babafemi said: “The chairman/chief executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) had on the same day directed that she be counselled and released immediately because of the young baby she was carrying.
“Curiously, a controlled delivery operation carried out by operatives of the Delta state command of the agency on Saturday, October 30 again led to the arrest of Mariam who had ordered for the drugs from Lagos.”
Also, at least, two suspected fake security agents; Umar Ibrahim and Sadiq Abubakar as well as their accomplice, Auwal Hassan, have been arrested in Kogi state while conveying a total of 105.4kilograms of cannabis from Ondo state to Kaduna on Saturday October 30 in a Mercedes Benz C 180 car with registration number Abuja BWR 924 KH..
In Ondo state, no less than 1,645kg of cannabis were seized in three interdiction operations in parts of the state. Operatives had on 28th October stormed Emure cannabis farm camp where 313kg of cannabis were seized and seven suspects: Paul Godwin; Michael Nnaji; Ezugu Lucky; Omolu Sunday; Simon Taiwo; David Udofia; and M. Suleiman arrested.
Operatives had the previous day raided the Ipele-Idoani forest where 534kg of abandoned compressed cannabis were recovered just as a total of 798kg of cannabis were seized from two suspects, Gbenga Falodun and Faseyitan Opeyemi, at Ikare junction, Owo area of the state. Also recovered from them were a white Mercedes Benz truck Lagos LSR 06 XW and monetary exhibit of N20,000.
Also, raids at three black spots in Oshodi, Ikeja and Ogba areas of Lagos State on 23rd October have led to the arrest of a 15-year-old female SS II student of Idi-Araba Senior High School, Walaka Adams, who was arrested at No. 72 Mafoluku Road, Oshodi, with 100 g of cannabis, alongside Sodiq Ganun, a 24-year-old welder with 200g of cannabis, and Tajudeen Azeez arrested at Ipodo, Ikeja, with 9 g of cocaine. At a drug joint in Ogba area of Ikeja, different quantities of abandoned drugs such as molly, rohypnol and codeine-based syrup were recovered.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Delta, Ondo, Kogi and Lagos commands of the Agency for not resting on their oars, General Buba Marwa (rtd) charged them and their counterparts in other Commands to remain resolute in the ongoing efforts to cut access and availability of illicit drugs across the country.
