The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of a cleaner, Sunday Ohiagu, for running a drug syndicate at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Ohiagu was arrested on Tuesday following the arrest of a Dubai-bound passenger, Obinna Osita.
He claimed that Osita, an intending Air Peace passenger, was apprehended with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 4.25kg hidden in cassava, garri, and crayfish.
Babafemi said Osita was arrested alongside another member of the airport syndicate who worked with Ohiagu.
The statement read in part, “Investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug dealer recruited Osita, 42, a native of Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, to traffic the drugs and equally contracted Ohiagu, 34, an airport cleaner from Orlu West Local Government Area of Imo State, to create access for the unhindered passage of the trafficker.”
“The drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new terminal of the MMIA, comes on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of bottles of Viju and fearless energy drinks used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE, through the NAHCO export shed on Monday, August 15.
“A freight agent has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.”
In the same vein, Babafemi said an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through the Lagos airport on Wednesday, August 24, was foiled during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline to Oman via Addis Ababa.
“A suspect, Jonah Chukwuemeka, was arrested with a total of 1,995 Tramadol tablets, with a gross weight of 900 grams hidden in locust beans in his luggage. The bag containing the illicit substance was handed over to him at the airport by one Abbas Olagunju, who was promptly arrested.”
The NDLEA spokesman also said the agency’s operatives, on Saturday, raided a car shop, Bolak Motors, at Ewela bus stop, Oshodi, where bags of 615.2kg cannabis were recovered along with nine vehicles.
Babfemi said, “Efforts are ongoing to track the car dealer, Alhaji Ismail, who is currently at large.”
The NDLEA spokesman also confirmed drug seizures in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Kebbi states, adding that arrested suspects would be charged for the crime.