Government’s efforts to end the drug trafficking menace and sundry crimes amongst Nigerians continue to rise with the latest interception of over 649,300 capsules of Tramadol 225mg and €809,850 (N400 Million) cash, over the weekend.
The items were among consignments from Pakistan, Austria and Italy intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos where various quantities of Heroin and other illicit drugs were also blocked from being exported to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The latest statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the items were intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company cargo warehouse at the airport.
“Anti-narcotic officers seized 649,300 capsules of Tramadol 225mg weighing 460.95kg imported from Pakistan via Addis Ababa through Ethiopian Airline on Wednesday, February 16, suspect, Nwadu Christian arrested in connection with the seizure,” Babafemi wrote in the statement.
On the same day, a female passenger, Ayeki Happy who arrived at the airport from Italy on a Turkish Airlines flight was arrested with €69,850 cash concealed in her luggage.
“This was four days after another lady, Precious Idahagbon was arrested with €740,000 cash hidden in her luggage and undeclared upon her arrival at the airport from Vienna, Austria via Istanbul, Turkey,” he added in the statement.
Both cash seizures are currently under investigation to establish if they are proceeds of drug business.
At the NAHCO export shed of the airport, operatives seized a consignment of 131 parcels of Cannabis concealed in packages of black soap (Dudu-Osun), during outward clearance of cargo going to the UK.
This is as another consignment presented for export to Dubai, UAE at SAHCO shed was also recovered after 30 parcels of cannabis hidden in cartons of cornflakes were discovered in it.
No less than 6.5kg of Heroin, Khat and Oxycodone packaged for export to the USA, and Canada was also seized at a major courier company in Lagos by operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations (DOGI). The drugs were concealed in shoes, and carton walls.
The anti-drugs agency also revealed that a 34-year-old Nasiru Abdulrahman was arrested at Kano in connection with 476kg of Cannabis at Kwanar Dan Gora, Kiru local government area of the state on Friday, February 25.
In Adamawa, another 4,000 tablets of Tramadol of 225mg weight were seized from Abdulmuminu Abubakar, 24, who was arrested at Gidan Madara, Mubi North LGA on Tuesday 22nd Feb while travelling on a motorcycle to deliver the drugs in Bukula, Cameroon Republic.
He claimed another suspect, Fahad Mohammed, 19, gave the consignment to him. Fahad was later arrested in a follow-up operation at his home in the Kasuwan Borkono Area of Mubi town.
In Abuja, two consignments were intercepted from transport vehicles in the Abaji area of the Federal Capital Territory FCT. While the first contained 12kg cannabis, the second has 356kg of the same substance. A follow-up operation in Kaduna led to the arrest of the owner of the 356kg cannabis, Ayomide Adewale, 29.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Adamawa and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Buba Marwa charged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the offensive action against all drug cartels in every part of Nigeria.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
