NDLEA intercepts N10bn Cocaine, Canadian Loud, Opioids at Lagos ports

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at over N10 billion, including cocaine, Canadian Loud and opioids, in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, while arresting suspected drug kingpins and uncovering ammunition concealed in palm oil kegs in Kaduna and Katsina states.

The agency said the operations led to the arrest of 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who allegedly masterminded attempts to export cocaine to the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Chinedu, a clothing dealer at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday after investigators traced him to a 3.30-kilogram cocaine consignment concealed inside the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs destined for the UK.

According to Babafemi, the cocaine shipment had been intercepted at the export shed of the Lagos airport a day earlier, prompting the arrest of three cargo agents-Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the consignment.

He said further investigations led to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the shipment to the cargo agents, eventually exposing Chinedu as the alleged kingpin behind the trafficking syndicate.

Babafemi disclosed that Chinedu was apprehended while attempting to send another cocaine consignment to the UK.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her Surulere residence after intercepting a 2.80kg consignment of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.

The agency also recorded another major seizure at the Lagos airport, where operatives intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at more than N2.2 billion, during a joint examination of cargo imported from India aboard an Air Maroc flight. Babafemi said the operation followed credible intelligence processed by the agency.

He added that the seizure came shortly after NDLEA officers intercepted a shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap at a Lagos courier company while the consignment was being prepared for export to the United Kingdom.

At the Apapa Seaport, Babafemi said operatives uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilograms, concealed inside three imported vehicles. The illicit consignment has an estimated street value of over N7.1 billion.

Beyond drug interdictions, NDLEA operatives also intercepted military-grade ammunition during separate operations in northern Nigeria.

Babafemi said Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

Similarly, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was apprehended during a stop-and-search operation at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red palm oil.

He said both suspects had been transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse at Ilushi community in Esan South-East Local Government Area, recovering 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds. Two suspects-Ojore Onweze, 45, and George Agwumede, 30, were also arrested with 60kg and 13kg of skunk, respectively.

Babafemi said the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign during the week with sensitisation programmes held in schools and communities across Niger, Kano and Lagos states.

Commending officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) as well as the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel nationwide to remain steadfast in implementing the agency’s balanced strategy of aggressive drug supply reduction alongside sustained public enlightenment.