NDLEA intercepts Europe-bound drug barons

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have thwarted attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by the NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on November 5, 2024.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Nelson, was tracked and arrested on November 8.

Babafemi also said another businessman identified as Adegbite Solomon, who tried to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, among others, was arrested, and the drugs recovered from him.

He said, “The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of Rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, November 11, when the NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into the logistics business.”

Babafemi noted that another businessman, Anoke Roomy, was arrested with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey, at the Lagos airport on November 15.

He added, “Following credible intelligence, the NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the agency on Friday, November 15, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.”

In another intelligence-led operation, Babafemi said a trans-border drug trafficker, Emmanuel Okeke, was arrested during an attempt to smuggle drugs to Ghana.

He said there were drugs concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

Babafemi said, “Officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, November 16, foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke, to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to the GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at the Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while coming from Ghana.”

In Edo State, Babafemi said no fewer than 997kg of cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.

“While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to the Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of the same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at the Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday November 14,” he added.

In Kwara State, he said the NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA.

“While Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo State on Thursday, November 14. A total of 563.74 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” he concluded.