Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after discovering 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage.
The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to the United Kingdom for vacation, was apprehended at the departure hall on Saturday while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow, London.
According to NDLEA, a search of his bags revealed blocks of cocaine hidden inside food items, including ground dry pepper. The illicit substance had been carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons to evade detection.
In a related operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Mrs. Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while she allegedly attempted to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.
The suspect was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of her arrest. She reportedly told investigators that the drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was subsequently arrested the same day. NDLEA said the husband later admitted ownership of the drugs and further investigation showed he had previously been arrested, convicted and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.
Elsewhere on Lagos Island, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, at Ebute Ero while attempting to transport 68,000 pills of tramadol (250mg and 225mg) to the Benin Republic.
A follow-up operation at Idumota Market on March 11 led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian. A search of his shop uncovered a parcel prepared for waybill delivery containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg. Another raid at the same market on March 13 resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
In separate operations across the country, NDLEA operatives arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386kg of skunk in the Bebeji area of Kano, while another suspect, Isah Wako, 42, was apprehended in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory with 282.2kg of the same substance.
In Edo State, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where a suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was arrested. During the operation, 4,218.96kg of skunk were destroyed on two farms, while 16.5kg was recovered.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with customs and other security agencies, intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in two containers at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos on Saturday. The containers had earlier been watch-listed following intelligence reports about concealed opioids.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools across several states, including Nasarawa, Oyo, Delta, Cross River and Edo.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the FCT for the arrests and seizures recorded during the past week. He also praised commands across the country for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.