By Joke Kujenya
MAJOR ARRESTS led to the capture of Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, an Onitsha businessman, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Nosike at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He was attempting to board a flight to Abuja on August 8, 2024, with plans to continue to Vietnam.
Nosike, 36, had swallowed the cocaine in a Lagos hotel before heading to the airport.
NDLEA operatives placed him under 12 days of excretion observation, where he expelled the 1.282 kilograms of cocaine.
Another businessman, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, was intercepted at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 12, 2024.
Mbadugha, 54, was about to board a Qatar Airways flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, when NDLEA officers detained him.
After four days under surveillance, he excreted 88 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.710 kilograms.
The NDLEA also arrested Aligbo Chukwudi Jacob, another Onitsha-based businessman, following the seizure of a cannabis shipment at Lagos airport.
The 1.20-kilogram package was en route to Dubai, UAE.
The consignment, sent from Onitsha via courier, was intercepted during a routine check at the airport’s export shed.
After thorough investigations, the NDLEA apprehended Aligbo on August 17, 2024.
In a separate operation, five female drug traffickers were arrested at the Seme border while returning from Ghana.
The syndicate leader, 42-year-old Olaribigbe Bashirat Feyisara, had been under NDLEA surveillance.
The agency arrested her on August 21, 2024, along with her associates.
At the time of their arrest, they were found with 6.97 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed on their bodies.
Further seizures were made at Lagos’ Tincan seaport on August 23, 2024, where NDLEA operatives discovered two containers from India.
These containers held 1,596 cartons of codeine-based syrup, containing 319,200 bottles, valued at over N2.23 billion.
In Edo State, two women were arrested for selling drugs online.
Martha Owotorofa, 26, was caught with Canadian Loud at Kada Plaza, Benin City, while Odion Uzordinma, 21, was found with drug-laced cookies and cake in Ugbowo.
Another suspect, Saturday Edobor, 50, was arrested in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area with 288.8 kilograms of cannabis.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Godwill Davidson on August 21, 2024, in Mushin.
He was caught with 3,834 bottles of codeine syrup, 5,200 Co-Codamol pills, and 11,880 Rohypnol tablets.
Another suspect, Yahaya Ibrahim, 23, was apprehended on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway with 42,000 tramadol pills.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested Feranmi Bankole, 25, and Fredrick Tobiloba, 25, on August 20, 2024.
The duo was caught with 267.5 liters of skuchies, a drug-laced drink, and 18 grams of Canadian Loud at Pariz Lounge.
Across the country, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, reaching out to schools, workplaces, and communities.
Notable activities included sensitization at Dan Amus Sangaya School in Adamawa, Enugu transport companies, Kaduna State School of Nursing, and Chrisland University, Ogun State.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s officers for their dedication to drug control efforts.
He urged continued diligence in combating the drug menace across Nigeria.
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