By Joke Kujenya
SEVERAL DRUG consignments have been intercepted at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and other locations in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
They seized cocaine and “Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in various items. Arrests were made in connection with these smuggling attempts.
On July 18, 2024, NDLEA officers arrested Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu at his residence in Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos.
He was linked to 40 parcels of Loud, weighing 20.30 kilograms, hidden in chessboards, scrabble sets, checkers, and poker sets.
The consignment arrived from Canada on a British Airways flight.
A search of Alebiosu’s home revealed drug paraphernalia, including a weighing scale, a cannabis potency test kit, and four vaping machines.
A black Mikano truck was also recovered.
On July 19, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of MMIA intercepted two jumbo bags destined for Pakistan.
The bags, containing dried hibiscus and bitter leaves, concealed four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, weighing 1.360 kilograms.
The investigation led to the arrest of businesswoman Eze Queen Ogechi, who claimed she was sending the consignment to Pakistan on her brother’s instructions.
At the MMIA Terminal II Departure Gate, on July 18, officers intercepted Orobi Adoubi Amen, a Beninese passenger traveling to Dubai.
Eight parcels of Loud, weighing 2.10 kilograms, were found concealed in female native dresses in his luggage.
Amen stated he was paid N600,000 for successful delivery in Dubai.
On July 14, at Tincan port in Lagos, NDLEA officers recovered 4.5 kilograms of Loud hidden inside the door panels and boot of a Toyota RAV 4 vehicle from Canada.
Suspects Dada Kole and Alaba Oladewusi were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Yawuri town, Kebbi State, on July 16, NDLEA operatives arrested Amadu Garba, a one-legged man, with six bags of cannabis weighing 67 kilograms.
In Abuja, on July 15, Ademola Elusakin and Nuhu Friday Adamu were arrested with 30 kilograms of cannabis on the Kwali-Gwagwalada-Abuja expressway.
Elusakin claimed the consignment came from Ghana and was destined for illegal miners in Nasarawa State.
On July 14, in Yobe State, Sale Bukar was arrested with 305 blocks of cannabis weighing 152.5 kilograms.
He was transporting the consignment to Diffa, Niger Republic.
In Imo State, on July 18, Aham Regal Chinemeze was arrested with 60 kilograms of cannabis.
Adamu Abdullahi was arrested on July 17 with 40.5 kilograms of cannabis along the Obajana-Kabba expressway in Kogi State.
In Plateau State, a raid on the storehouse of notorious drug dealer Choji Gyang (alias Pararam) at Rukuba Road, Jos, led to the recovery of 34 bags of cannabis weighing 312 kilograms.
His manager, Kelvin Onwutalu, was arrested. In Osogbo, Osun State, Ifabiyi Johnson and Adeleke Musiliu were arrested on July 19 with different strains of cannabis weighing 30.4 kilograms.
In Jigawa State, on July 19, Tukur Yahaya, Idris Haruna, and Tanimu Umar were arrested with 90 blocks of cannabis weighing 116.8 kilograms at Roni junction, Kazaure LGA.
They were supplying illicit drugs to customers in Kazaure, Yankwashi, and Katsina State.
In Kaduna, Ibrahim Abdulkadir and Suleman Mohammed were arrested with 336 bottles of codeine syrup, and Auwalu Hashimu was nabbed with 45 kilograms of cannabis along the Zaria-Kano highway.
NDLEA operatives, backed by soldiers, raided a mechanic workshop in Akure, Ondo State, recovering a Toyota Hilux van loaded with 652 parcels of cannabis weighing 685 kilograms.
In Nasarawa State, a raid on Christopher Ombugadu’s home in Akwanga led to the recovery of 38 kilograms of cannabis and a locally made AK-47 rifle.
NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) activities continued nationwide, including enlightenment lectures in schools and communities.
The Chairman, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to continue their drug supply and demand reduction initiatives.
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