In a separate operation at a logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA agents seized 21 parcels of Loud, a potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing a total of 10 kilograms.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspected drug traffickers and seized large US and UK-bound cocaine consignments in automobile parts and clothes in Lagos State.
The NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement issued on Sunday, said the operatives also intercepted shipments of Loud from Canada at Tincan, Lagos airport.
The NDLEA spokesperson further disclosed that NDLEA operatives also smashed cocaine syndicates and recovered multi-billion-naira drugs in their nationwide raids.
Babafemi said “In a nationwide intelligence-driven operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized massive quantities of cocaine, valued at billions of naira, cleverly hidden in various items such as heavy-duty automobile pivot shafts and Ghanaian Kente fabric, among others.
“While 2.32 kg of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian Kente fabric going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday, August 5, 2024, 10.494kg of same class A drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814 kilograms.
“In the same vein, five other consignments going to the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday 9th August 2024.
“They include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.”
In a separate operation at a logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA agents seized 21 parcels of Loud, a potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing a total of 10 kilograms. The illicit shipment, originating from the United States, was destined for delivery in Abuja.
In another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on August 7, arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network identified as Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra state.
“Two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra state were also arrested on Thursday, 8th August in a follow up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, Edo state same day.
“While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town,” Babafemi said.
He further said, “NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday 7th August intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.
“The seizure was made during 100% joint examination with men of Customs Service and other stakeholders.
“The following day, Thursday 8th August, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613, that came from Canada.”
In Adamawa state, he said NDLEA operatives on August 8, with the support of men of operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa, arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.200kg in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM.
“He claimed he was bringing the consignment from Edo state to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.
“Two suspects: Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Tuesday 6th August with 29.5kg cannabis, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 1,169 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid road, Ajah on Sunday 4th August.
“No less than 1,230.00kg cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland at Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/ Odolu LGA, Kogi state on Friday 9th August by NDLEA officers supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested,” the NDLEA spokesperson added.