The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA ) says its has thwarted fresh attempts by members of some transnational drug trafficking organisations to export illicit drug consignments out of the country.
It said the illicit drugs of various quantities of methamphetamine and skunk were seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA , Ikeja – Lagos and some courier companies in Lagos.
Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi who confirmed this in a statement on Sunday said the intercepted illicit drug consignments were concealed in different items.
“At the Lagos Airport, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 12th September intercepted an intending passenger going to Oman, Ugwu Peter Tochukwu, while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight.
“Upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf.
“In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilograms of skunk and 14 grams of methamphetamine concealed in bags of semovita and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively,” the statement said.
Babafemi said while two suspects : Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1kgs of cannabis on Tuesday, 11th September at Ikebe village, Ankpa LGA, Kogi state, a female suspect, Bilikisu Salako, 35, was nabbed with 108kgs of same substance on Saturday 16th September in Ifo area of Ogun state.
“A total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru on Tuesday 11th September along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano.
“In FCT Abuja, a 27-year-old Kingsley Chimaobi was arrested with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road on Tuesday 11th September,” Babafemi said
In a related development, Babafemi said a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday 13th September sentenced to five years imprisonment, a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilograms of skunk.
He said Odeyemi, was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki.
“He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko,” he said.
The statement explained that the various commands of the agency also continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA) sensitization activities during the week in review.
It said the commands across the country, during the week took their advocacy messages to different stakeholders.
” Instances of this include, WADA advocacy visit to the head of Kadiria Islamic Sect of Africa, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara, in Kano; WADA sensitisation lecture for men and officers of Nigerian Army, Sobi barracks, Ilorin; lecture for Muslim community in Kaduna; WADA sensitisation lecture at Enugu State College of Health and Technology, Oji- River; advocacy lecture for members of Ram Sellers Association, Osogbo as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Navy School of Music, Ota, Ogun state, among others,” he said.
In his reaction, the Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, retired Brig.- Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa
commended officers and men of the MMIA, Imo, Kaduna, Ogun, Kogi, FCT and Lagos Commands as well as those of DOGI for intensifying their drug control efforts.
Marwa equally applauded the commitment of all the commands across the country, for workinh with other stakeholders to take the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to communities, schools, worship centres, work places and traditional institutions.
He then charged them not to relent. (vitalnewsngr.com)
