The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has arrested a 35-year-old Qatar-based lady who attempted to smuggle Indian hemp to the Arabian country.
Spokesman of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that the lady was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He explained that she hid 20 parcels of the weed in “African salad’’ (cassava cuts and vegetables), but was intercepted at the airport on Thursday in collaboration with men of the Department of State Services.
Babafemi stated that preliminary investigation showed that the lady returned to Nigeria in December 2023 for end-of-year celebrations.
“She said that preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arabian country,’’ he stated.
In another development, NDLEA also arrested two men at Iwaya, Yaba and Agege areas of Lagos on March 26.
Babafemi stated that the agency recovered 842,560 psychoactive pills, particularly tramadol, in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596gms of Molly from the duo.
“NDLEA operatives rebuffed an offer of N5 million bribe from one of them and the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects,’’ he added.
In Bayelsa State, three men aged between 27 years and 44 years are in custody for trafficking in psychoactive substances hidden in noodles.
Babafemi disclosed that psychoactive drugs recovered from them were 73.425kg of codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam.
“The third suspect was nabbed at Amasoma, Yenagoa in a follow up operation. The drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to Swali Jetty in a tricycle,’’ he stated.
The NDLEA also arrested two suspects at Orile Imo, Ogun, on March, 29 and they were in possession of 137 blocks of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp weighing 71kg.
Babafemi stated also that in Taraba, NDLEA recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a 33-year-old suspect in Lankaviri village, while its operatives arrested a 29-year-old man in Wukari on March 28 with 131kg of Indian hemp.
“In Abia, NDLEA operatives arrested a 28-year-old man on Friday, March 29 at Akara Ahuba, in Isikwuato Local Government Area.
“Recovered from him were 46.65kg of Indian hemp and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and Rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit,’’ Babafemi added.
