NDLEA arrests businessman with cocaine at Lagos airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.55 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The businessman, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India. According to the NDLEA, a search of his check-in bag revealed the cocaine factory-fitted into the structure of the luggage.
In a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said Onyebuchi confessed that he sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment. He reportedly hoped to sell the cocaine in India for about N100 million.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a warehouse in a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos. The controlled substance, recovered between Aug. 7 and 8, was valued at more than N2.6 billion.
Similarly, the agency raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, in Ipaja, Lagos, where 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million, were recovered. Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also seized during the operation.
Beyond Lagos, NDLEA operatives recorded several arrests and seizures across the country. In Kwara, two suspects were arrested with 55.96 kilograms of skunk, while in Oyo, officers intercepted a Toyota Sienna containing 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, leading to the arrest of two suspects, including a 70-year-old man.
In Delta and Plateau states, the agency also seized large quantities of controlled substances, including tramadol, codeine syrup, rohypnol, diazepam, pentazocine and tramadol injections, while a separate operation in Plateau led to the recovery of 239,490 capsules of tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. In Kano, six suspects were arrested with 728,958 pills of opioids, 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, another synthetic strain of cannabis.
Additionally, the NDLEA reported the destruction of 4,628.9775 kilograms of skunk from two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares in Edo State, while other seizures were recorded in Kano and Delta. Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged commands across the country to maintain a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts, including the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaigns.
