NDLEA arrests suspects, seizes heroin, other hard drugs in multiple operations

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted large consignments of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, skunk, and opioids in multiple operations across Nigeria, including at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and in several northern states.

In a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Agency said two returnees from Brazil excreted a total of 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine after days in observatory custody, while other suspects were caught concealing drugs in unusual ways, including in underwear, food items, and phone chargers.

According to the Agency, 46-year-old Ofoma Sunday was arrested on Tuesday, September 16, at Terminal 2 of MMIA on arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs. He later excreted 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.452 kg in eight batches.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Nweke Jude Chuckwudi at a hotel in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, where he was meant to oversee the recovery of the drugs. Similarly, another Brazilian returnee, Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu, was arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday, September 19, during the clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Nweke Jude Chuckwudi at a hotel in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, where he was meant to oversee the recovery of the drugs. Similarly, another Brazilian returnee, Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu, was arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday, September 19, during the clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers.

At the NAHCO export shed of Lagos airport on Monday, September 15, NDLEA intercepted a consignment of food items containing 40 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 2.30kg bound for Hong Kong via Turkish Airlines. A 59-year-old suspect, Umelo Ifeanyi Venatus, who presented the shipment, was arrested.

“On Thursday, September 18, operatives at a courier company in Lagos intercepted another consignment packaged for Europe. Seven phone chargers destined for New Zealand were found to contain 257 grams of cocaine.

Outside Lagos, NDLEA carried out major raids. In Adamawa, 233,800 pills of tramadol were recovered in three separate operations.

Nearly 196,000 pills were abandoned in a Toyota Sienna in Mayo Belwa, while a suspect, Rita Zira, was arrested in Jambutu, Yola, with 27,900 pills hidden in her bedroom. Another suspect, Halilu Abubakar, 22, was caught at Namtari checkpoint with 10,300 pills,” the statement read.