The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operatives foiled a bid by members of an international drug syndicate operating between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 packets of cocaine weighing 18, 72 kilograms at Murtala Muhammed. International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

According to the NDLEA, the drug consignments, valued at four billion four hundred and ninety two million eight hundred thousand naira (£4,492,800,000) in street value, were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during post cleaning – cabin landing. on flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on Tuesday 29 October 2024.

This was contained in a statement by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja on Sunday.

Babafemi disclosed that the illicit drug shipments were packed in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste bins of the two rear toilets of the aircraft, where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of the NDLEA was alerted to the items strange

He said no fewer than 30 suspects have been questioned in connection with the seizure so far.

Babafemi also added that investigations revealed that the seized drugs were transported from Brazil to Ethiopia by ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers, while other traffickers picked them up and tried to smuggle them into Nigeria through Lagos airport before trying. was frustrated by the cooperation of the airline authorities and other airport stakeholders.

In the same vein, the NDLEA announced that attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to export 2,928 kg of cocaine, cannabis and tramadol (225 mg) concealed in body cream containers and artwork to Australia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States . The kingdom through courier companies in Lagos was also blocked by its officers of the Directorate General of Operations and Investigations (DOGI) on Monday, October 28.

According to the statement issued by Babafemi, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, October 29, intercepted 754,000 tapentadol and acetaminophen (225mg) pills worth five hundred and twenty five million naira (₦525,000,000) in a container targeted at India. during a joint screening with people from the Customs Service and other security agencies at Apapa Port in Lagos.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a suspect, Mujahid Hamisu, 24, was arrested with 147,000 tramadol pills hidden in black nylon bags containing sanitary materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway Abuja , while on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Another suspect, Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives on the same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operations in Giri Junction area of ​​FCT.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers patrolling along the Kabba-Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, on a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja. A search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth four million, three hundred and fifty three thousand two hundred naira (INR 4,353,200). Another suspect, Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was caught in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along the Lokoja-Okene-Abuja road on Thursday, October 30, with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27,400 kg.

A notorious drug dealer, Usman Abba (alias Timaya), who was on the watch list of the Katsina State Command of the NDLEA, was arrested on Wednesday, October 30, at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura, with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis. . On the same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested a suspect, Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.

In Taraba, operatives on Friday, November 1, arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg of cannabis, while a total of 561kg of the same substance were recovered from a Sienna bus in Ogbese village in Ondo. State Monday, October 28.

A suspect, Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was arrested on Saturday, November 2, in possession of 51,813 tramadol and exol 5 pills at the NDA bus station, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo State led to the seizure of 603.6 kg of cannabis at the Farm. Drum, Ekiadolor, and 308.4 kg of the same substance at Uroe community.

Reacting to the developments, the President/Executive Director of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba and Edo Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures last week.

Marwa also applauded their compatriots from all country commands for stepping up WADA’s sensitization lectures and advocacy messages in every part of their areas of responsibility.