MMIA: NDLEA intercepts Spain-bound cocaine consignment hidden in sandals

*Nabs Lagos-Ghana Tramadol syndicate kingpin

Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekend, arrested a Spain-based businessman, 50-year-old Francis Akajiobi at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, while confirming the arrest, said Akajiobi was arrested after parcels of cocaine weighing 1.20 kilograms were discovered in his pair of sandals while attempting to board his Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid, Spain.

He said: “The two parcels of cocaine were concealed in the soles of a pair of black sandals Akajiobi was wearing to board his flight when NDLEA operatives intercepted him on July 25, 2024. 

“During his preliminary interview, he claimed the consignment was delivered to him at a bar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was to deliver it to his friend and neighbour in Spain for a fee of 5,000 euro upon successful delivery to the recipient.

“In the same vein, a suspect, Makinde Lekan, has been arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 51.60kg that arrived the SAHCO Imports shed of the Lagos airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Canada via Istanbul, Turkey.

“Meanwhile, operatives of a Special Operations Unit targeting syndicates that specialise in shipping large consignments of opioids into neighbouring countries from where they attempt smuggling them into Nigeria in smaller quantities through transport companies, have arrested one of the kingpins, Chukwuemaka Obodozie. 

“He was arrested in the early hours of July 21, at Cele bus stop along Oshodi-Apapa express road, Lagos with 100,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg loaded in two bags shortly after his arrival from Ghana via one of the transport companies plying the Lagos-Ghana route. 

“The intelligence led operation followed five months of surveillance around Chukwuemeka.”

"Also, no fewer than 17 suspects were arrested in July 26, when NDLEA operatives raided the Owena  forest in Oriade LGA, Osun State, where they destroyed 31,250 kilograms of cannabis on 12.5 hectares of farmland, while 84kg of processed cannabis sativa was recovered along with a single barrel Dane gun. 

“Those arrested include Peter Osuya, 51; Zebron Ode, 46; Dogo Reuben Matthew, 35; Isaac Terna; Joseph David Lawrence, 27;  Ugochukwu Victory, 24; Olamilekan Abolarin, 26; Dele Ayibo, 44; Ojo Moses, 21; Nini Ayila, 27; Msughve Clement, 23; Chuks Ogeneku, 40; Dada Aribo, 20; Uche Endurance, 30; Patrick Agba, 21; Osakwe Kennedy, 45; and Ojo Babatunde, 29.

“In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives on stop and search patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway on July 27, intercepted a 32-year-old lady, Ubaida Aliyu in possession of 573 rounds of 7.60 live ammunition, which she claimed she was attempting to deliver to bandits in Sokoto.

“While a suspect, Godwin Udochukwu, 35, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 25,000 ampoules of Pentazocine injection by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway.

Another suspect, Alkasim Mikailu, 35, was nabbed in Kano on a follow up operation following the seizure of 37,880 ampoules of Diazepam injection along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

“Two suspects: Abioye Adeniyi, 39, and Rafiu Lekan, 41, were arrested with 55 jumbo wraps of Ghana Loud by NDLEA operatives at Oloko along Badagry-Seme road, Lagos on July 26,  while Samson Egwutouhi, 30, was nabbed same day by officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja express way with 20 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa that weighed 10.500kg.  

“In Bauchi State, two suspects: Suleiman Yahaya, 50, and Ibrahim Bello (a.k.a Special), 35, were on July 25, arrested with 315 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 204.750kg along Maiduguri bye-pass, Bauchi town,” he added. 

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Culled from Vanguard