The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.55kg of cocaine to India.
The suspect, who deals in marble in Lagos, was arrested at Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi. NDLEA operatives discovered the cocaine concealed in the side walls and railings of his check-in bag.
During interrogation, Onyebuchi reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment. He allegedly hoped to sell the cocaine in India for about N100 million.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at more than N2.6 billion.
The agency also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at his residence in Ipaja, Lagos. Operatives recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million, as well as a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla.
Across Kwara and Oyo states, NDLEA officers arrested four suspects and recovered 55.96kg of cannabis and 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection. Among those arrested was a 70-year-old suspect, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, who was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In Delta State, officers recovered 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol from two suspects along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway.
Another suspect was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, six suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State, where NDLEA operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In another Kano operation, officers raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area, recovering 171 blocks of cannabis weighing 106.8kg and arresting two suspects.
The agency also destroyed 4,628.98kg of cannabis cultivated on two farms covering 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Edo State. One suspect was arrested during the operation.
The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also continued during the week, with sensitisation programmes held in schools and communities, including Kano and Ajah in Lagos.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised personnel in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta commands for their efforts in reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs.
The statement was signed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.