The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed inside the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspect was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

According to Babafemi, a search of Onyebuchi’s check-in luggage revealed the cocaine, which had been factory-fitted into the walls and railings of the bag.

The suspect, who deals in marbles in Lagos, reportedly told investigators that he sold his business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment, which he hoped to sell in India for as much as N100 million.

“In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.”

Babafemi said the suspect remained in custody pending prosecution.

N2.6bn Codeine Shipment Seized In Lagos

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse inside a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.

The operation, conducted between August 7 and 8, led to the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at more than N2.6 billion.
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The agency also said operatives raided the residence of a 55-year-old alleged drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.

The raid resulted in the recovery of 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million. A Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla were also recovered.

Seizures Across Seven States

The NDLEA said its operations also resulted in arrests and seizures in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states.

In Kwara, operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at the Kam Wire area of Ilorin on August 13 and recovered 55.96kg of skunk from a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

In Oyo State, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, 70, and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on August 12. Operatives recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA.

Delta State operatives intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on August 13. The agency said the suspects were found with 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on August 12 with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla, registration number MKD 341 EA, along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested.

729,000 Opioid Pills Seized In Kano

In Kano State, six suspects were arrested on August 10 along the Zaria-Kano Road. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

The agency said operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Another operation at Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14 led to the seizure of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg. Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested.

Cannabis Farms Destroyed In Edo

In Edo State, the NDLEA said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed from two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested at one of the farms during the August 12 operation.

Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on August 14. Operatives recovered 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine from him.

The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy activities also continued during the week, with sensitisation lectures held for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos State.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa also praised personnel across the agency for maintaining what he described as a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.

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