The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that its operatives apprehended three individuals belonging to an organized criminal group specializing in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America. This action follows the recent confiscation of the largest single consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the NDLEA announced the arrest of the suspects who had been wanted for over two months.
The Agency revealed that a total of 51.90 kilograms of heroin had been confiscated from members of the drug cartel. The operation, which commenced on February 10, 2024, at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal, led to the recovery of the illicit substance. Concealed within 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, the haul included 45 blocks weighing 49.70kg. An additional 2.2kg was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area, Lagos.
Furthermore, the Agency disclosed that it had obtained interim forfeiture court orders on properties, vehicles, and funds linked to members of the syndicate. Four individuals have been apprehended, while a manhunt has been initiated for those who evaded capture.
“The effort however paid off on Friday 19th April when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively. Another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Emmanuel Obinna was equally nabbed in Lagos,” the Agency said.
Similarly, the NDLEA reported the interception of an attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu Festus, to export a drug consignment through Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, April 18. Officers discovered 20 large parcels of cannabis, weighing 9.80kg, concealed in his luggage during a search.
According to the suspect, who resides in Muscat, Oman, and returned to Nigeria on April 1, he confessed that he was hired to transport the drugs, with an agreement to receive N1,200,000 upon successful delivery in Oman.
Furthermore, in Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Peugeot car driven by Dahiru Mohammed on Saturday, April 20, at Girei, while he was en route to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450kg. Prior to this, the operatives had intercepted a J5 bus marked AAA790XV along the Ngurore-Yola Road. The bus, loaded with motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, contained consignments of Codeine Syrup and Tramadol concealed among the motor parts. A subsequent operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor, at Jambutu motor park.
“Three suspects: Beriakuma Vivian Chinrdu, 40; Okpor Isaac, 68, and Daniel Onyeachom, 42, were on Saturday 20th April arrested at Amarata,Yenagoa, Bayelsa state in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36kg and concealed in a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car marked MUS 711 DH they were travelling in. This is even as NDLEA operatives in Imo state on Thursday 18th April arrested Kingsley Omeje, 41, at Amajeke, Owerri while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he ordered.
“In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North LGA where they arrested Linus Odogwu, 50, and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilograms of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5kg of same substance. Three other suspects: David Obungete Ekepenyoung, 22; Oluwaseun Folorunso,23; and Rabiu Musa, 32, were nabbed in other parts of the state in connection to different seizures totaling 77kg.
“In the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures. These include WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of St. Dominick High School, Makurdi, Benue state; students and staff of Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, Jigawa state; traders at timber market, Umuokpo, Awka, Anambra and WADA advocacy visit to Methodist Church (Bishop Court) Abeokuta, Ogun state, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ondo and Imo Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”