The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested an Ibadan, Oyo state-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora over attempts to export opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville respectively.
A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said officers of the Agency at the export shed of the Lagos International Airport had, on 6th September 2024 intercepted a cargo going to the United Kingdom.
A thorough search of the consignment revealed that, 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.
The freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested.
Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.
Babafemi said a follow up operation on 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.
In his statement, the agent Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier.
READ ALSO: NDLEA nabs notorious drug kingpin Barryshine
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the same export shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and checkers powder custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines.
A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of checkers powder custard packed together with some auto parts.
A follow up operation led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.
Also, the NDLEA intercepted no fewer than 2.4 million tramadol pills in Gombe State.
Babafemi said the operatives acting on credible intelligence on Sept. 14, arrested three suspects.
He said that the suspects were arrested on Bauchi-Gombe road while travelling in a truck marked GME 552 ZU.
“A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 2,490,000 pills of tramadol concealed with bags of salt,” he said.
In another development, a suspect, Idris Adamu was arrested with 41.5 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) at Kachia town, Kaduna State on Sept. 10.
“Other two suspects, Godiya Jikuk, 36, and Yusuf Umaru, 65, were arrested at Isinbode -Ekiti, with a total of 73.6 kilogramme cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) on Sept. 11.
“In Bauchi State, no fewer than 208,920 pills of tramadol and Diazepam were seized from a suspect, Chinedu Asadu, 35 on Sept. 13.
“Also, 104 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from two suspects — Abba Abdullahi and Mustapha Yahaya on Lagos-Ibadan expressway — on Sept. 10 by operatives in Lagos State,” Babafemi said.
Babafemi also said that not less than 350,000 bottles of Codeine-based syrup were discovered by NDLEA operatives in two containers shipped from India.
This, he said, was during a joint examination of the containers with men of Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan Port in Lagos on Sept. 10.
“The containers were part of those targeted by NDLEA for 100 per cent examination,” he said.
Credible News.ng
