The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has foiled an attempt by a businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus to smuggle 256 wraps of cocaine weighing six kilograms into the country through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The NDLEA said the seizure, is the single largest interception of cocaine at the Kano airport since the creation of MAKIA Command of NDLEA in 2006.
Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that the seizure was made on Sunday, 15th December 2024 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“Olisaka who claims to be into import and export business was subjected to body screening during which he was found to have packed hundreds of cocaine pellets in his body.
“A similar attempt by an ex-convict, Olanrewaju Bada Akorede to export a consignment of rohypnol to South Africa through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos, was equally frustrated by NDLEA officers at the airport.
“The consignment was hidden in a cargo containing gari, shoes, mens singlets and other items.
“Olarenwaju was convicted for a similar crime earlier this year following his arrest on 12th December 2023 for attempting to ship 4.90kg tramadol and 2.10kg rohypnol to South Africa through the export shed of the Lagos airport.
“He was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos with an option to pay a fine of N900, 000, which he paid and was freed before returning to repeat the same crime,” the statement said.
Babafemi also stated that
an Italy-based businesswoman, Cynthia Akaeen was also on Wednesday, 18th December arrested by NDLEA officers while trying to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy via Addis Ababa.
“The suspect was intercepted at the departure point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport during an outward clearance of passengers going to Italy.
“A total of 9,190 tablets of various brands of tramadol weighing 6.00kg were recovered from her.
“According to her, she was promised 1,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Italy.
“No fewer than 418,330 pills of tramadol 225mg, 100mg and tapentadol 250mg as well as 8,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a warehouse at a building material market in Onitsha, Anambra State on Tuesday 17th December when NDLEA operatives raided the market following credible intelligence.
“At the Tin Can Island port in Lagos, a total of 180,000 bottles codeine syrup were recovered on Wednesday 18th December from a container, which originated from Mundra, India.
“The seizure was made during a joint examination of the container by men of NDLEA, Customs, DSS, police, and other security agencies at the port, while a suspect Makata Emmanuel, who is the consignee and notify party, was promptly taken into custody.
“A total of 293,000 capsules of tramadol, a pistol and 26 rounds of 7.65mm live ammunition were recovered from the duo of Ishaya Wabba, 54, and Samaila Audu, 44, when they were arrested in a Toyota Sienna bus at Pompomari Bypass, Maiduguri, Borno state, while another suspect Sanusi Abdul Hamid, 37, was nabbed at Gwange area of the state capital with 260, 000 capsules of the same psychoactive substance on Monday 16th December.
“A 35-year-old suspect Modu Kolera was equally arrested on Wednesday 18th December at Custom area of Maiduguri with 8.5kg cannabis; 5,000 pills of tramadol; 7,500 tabs of diazepam; 14,500 tablets of exol and 50 litres of suck and die, a new psychoactive substance, in his Volkswagen Golf car marked DKW 812 AA.
“While a suspect Gafar Saminu, 30, was arrested on Wednesday 18th December with 33.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa, at Ayete, Oyo State, NDLEA operatives in Enugu same day raided the Aria new market where they recovered 94kg of same substance.
“In Lagos, a consignment of 32 kilograms ephedrine, a precursor chemical going to the South East was on Monday 16th December recovered at the Young Shall Grow Luxurious Vehicles Park, Maza-maza,” he explained.
The statement said the various commands and formations of the agency across the country also intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), sensitization activities during the week under review.
He said the sensitization activities were taken
to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others.
“These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Wajah Girls Government Day Secondary School, Hong, Adamawa; students and staff of Government Girls Tahfizul Quran Salihawa, Gwarzo, Kano; students and staff of Riyadul Quran Islamiyya School, Bagudo, Kebbi state, among others,” he said.
In his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of MAKIA, MMIA, Anambra, Borno, Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, and Tin Can Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars as they intensify their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. (vitalnewsngr.com)
