The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of significant drug busts across Nigeria, including the interception of cocaine ingeniously concealed in lipsticks and a property title document destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
The agency also reported the arrest of a notorious drug kingpin, a family-run drug distribution network, and numerous other seizures.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, attached to a logistics firm in Lagos, made the initial discovery on Thursday.
A total of 420 grams of cocaine were found “factory-fitted” into 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK.
In a separate consignment, 280 grams of the same Class A drug were cleverly hidden inside a Certificate of Occupancy being sent to Saudi Arabia.
In a major breakthrough, the NDLEA announced the arrest of a prominent drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, alias ‘Warri Kinsman’, in Ikeja on Saturday, June 28.
This followed a three-day intensive raid that led to the seizure of 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, weighing 414.2 kilograms, from 24 jumbo bags. Three accomplices were also apprehended during this operation.
In another alarming discovery, the NDLEA busted a family operating a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos.
Businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary Uchenna, their daughters Stella and Ngozi Uchenna, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah, were all taken into custody.
The couple was initially arrested on Friday, June 13, by Department of State Security operatives in Ojo with 277.5kg of skunk.
Further intelligence led to a raid on their home and a packing store on Tuesday, July 1, where an additional 231kg of skunk was recovered.
The two daughters and the family friend were arrested during this follow-up raid for continuing the family business in the couple’s absence.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, July 2, intercepted Aburemi Hysent, a frequent flyer attempting to smuggle 7,660 pills of Tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed within food items bound for Italy.
The suspect confessed to being promised €800 for the illicit delivery.
Two days later, on Friday, July 4, operatives at the MMIA also intercepted 52 counterfeit travelers’ cheques, valued at 17.7 million Australian dollars, cleverly hidden in children’s books.
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These cheques were destined for Malaysia via Istanbul.
A freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, linked to the consignment, has been arrested and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Beyond Lagos, the NDLEA’s operations spanned several states:
- Seme Border, Lagos (July 5): Recovered 359kg of skunk stored in the Baba-Pupa area.
- Okene-Lokoja Highway (July 5): Intercepted 10,000 Tramadol pills and 1.050kg of Colorado, with follow-up arrests made at Jabi Park, Abuja.
- Osun State (July 1-3): Multiple arrests in Osogbo and Ile-Ife led to the seizure of over 62,000 pills and ampoules of opioids. A 9.67-hectare cannabis farm was destroyed at Ikaka forest, Oke-Ila, resulting in seven arrests and the destruction of over 24,000kg of skunk.
- Borno State: 167kg of skunk recovered at Gamboru-Ngala.
- Zaria-Kano Road: 452kg of drugs seized, with two suspects arrested.
- Kaduna: 11,000 pills of Tramadol found on a 30-year-old man.
- Sokoto: A 62-year-old suspect arrested with 4,800 pills of Tramadol.
- Kebbi: Raid on Bakin Kasuwa, Yauri, yielded 312kg of skunk and 10,000 Diazepam tablets.
- Taraba: Two suspects found with nearly 50,000 capsules of Tramadol.
- Edo State: Wanted suspect Alaba Monday arrested in Ewere forest with 115kg of skunk. Three others arrested on a 2-hectare cannabis farm.
- Cross River: A 78-year-old man and others arrested in Obubra LGA with various quantities of skunk and Tramadol.
These recent interdictions underscore the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.