The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has frustrated attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in
25 pieces of phone chargers going to Saudi Arabia.
It said the attempts were thwarted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos.
However, the agency, did give information on the identities of the syndicates behind the attempts to export the drug to Saudi Arabia.
The agency said it also arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based Nigerian businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu for ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine.
The suspect was arrested by operatives at the departure hall of the airport on Sunday, 2nd August 2026, while heading to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
He said the suspect, Joseph Cyril, was nabbed at the departure hall of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
According to him, the suspect was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms.
Babafemi said : ” Investigations revealed that Cyril had arrived Nigeria from Italy on 13th July 2026 and ingested the drug in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State before proceeding to Enugu to board his flight to Europe on Sunday 2nd August.
“In his statement, he claimed he has been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drug consignment for a fee of 3,500 Euros in order to raise money to relocate to Germany where his family is based.”
“A similar bid to send 500 grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was equally aborted in another logistics company by NDLEA officers on Monday 3rd August, while a consignment of 2.3kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from the United States was intercepted in another shipping company in Lagos on Tuesday 4th August.”
In another development, NDLEA said it’s officers on patrol along Akure-Ilesha expressway on Tuesday, 4th August intercepted a truck heading to the North with 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts.
“Two suspects ; Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, transporting the consignment were arrested, while a total of 147kg skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a raid operation on Monday, 3rd August.
“In Oyo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence on Monday, 3rd August raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire LGA, where they recovered 731.03 kilograms and arrested a suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, while her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka is at large.
“In a similar operation in Edo State on Wednesday, 5th August, operatives supported by soldiers recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West LGA.
“While a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid at his Samec by powerline base in Osisioma LGA, Abia State where 7kg of skunk was seized on Thursday 6th August, a notorious wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru was on Saturday, 8th August nabbed at the fibre market drug jungle, Badagry, Lagos, after a three-month manhunt for him.
“As at the time of his arrest, 88.5kg of skunk was seized from him.
“A total of 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis weighing 309.4kg were discovered during a joint examination of a 40ft container by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies on Tuesday, 4th August at the Tincan port complex Lagos.
“A suspect, Larry Nnaji, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.
The statement said NDLEA commands and formations across the country also scaled up their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in the past one week.
It said the sensitization activities were held in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others.
These include WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano; while the Rivers state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, among others.
In his reaction, the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers and men of DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme, and Tin Can Commands for the various successful operations recorded during the week under review.
Marwa, enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with their ongoing balanced approach to drug control efforts of the agency.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
