By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
PLOTS TO smuggle large consignments of illicit drugs into and out of Nigeria have been intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), leading to multiple arrests, including that of a 24-year-old Thai woman caught with Canadian Loud at Lagos airport.
Operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, arrested Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat on Thursday, 20th February 2025, after discovering 43 parcels of synthetic cannabis, weighing 46.60kg, hidden in her luggage.
The suspect admitted to being recruited by a drug cartel that promised her $3,000 for successful delivery in Nigeria.
In another operation, NDLEA foiled an attempt to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing 42.2kg, to London.
The drugs were concealed in crated carton walls at the Lagos airport’s export shed.
Officers arrested three suspects, including a freight agent and two dispatch riders, before tracking down the mastermind, Samuel Bitris, at his home in Ajah.
Seizures extended beyond Lagos, as NDLEA officers at the Port Harcourt Port Complex intercepted 49,000 tramadol pills in a 40-foot container during a joint operation with Customs and security agencies.
Further crackdowns in Nasarawa and Niger states resulted in the arrest of four suspects transporting over 570kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation lectures at schools, religious centres, and workplaces across the country.
Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended officers for their dedication to tackling both drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
