Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies worth N1,157,670,469.92 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement yesterday said the suspect, Oguma Richard Uchenna, was arrested in connection with the attempt to export the cheques, which were neatly concealed in four hardcover books disguised as academic literature projects.
The consignment was headed for the United Kingdom, he said, adding that the cheques, suspected to be counterfeits were discovered on April 27 at NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport during cargo examination.
“A breakdown of the cheques shows they have monetary values of Two Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Three Dollars, Thirty One Cent ($287, 623.31); One Million Four Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand Three Hundred Canadian Dollars ($1,456,300) and One Million Two Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand Eight Hundred (1,297,800) Euros,” the statement reads.
Babafemi added that operatives of the NDLEA also foiled an attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle 10.89kilograms of cocaine into the country through a Qatar Airways flight at the Lagos airport.
He said the illicit drug was hidden in seven children duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil.
“Meanwhile, raid operations in Kaduna, Ondo and Akwa Ibom state have led to the seizure of about 2,000kg of Tramadol, Codeine, Cannabis and Heroin. In Ondo state, 401kg of cannabis was recovered and two suspects: Julius Dapo, 56 and Emeka Ikebuaku, 32, were arrested at Ipele forest in Owo area on Sunday, 24th April.
“On same day, a trans-border drug trafficker, Chigbo Chinonye, 42, was arrested with amphetamine weighing 2.5kg and heroin weighing 0.5kg during stop and search operation conducted along Oron- Ibaka road on his way to Cameroon. He concealed the drugs using false bottom packaging.
“In Kaduna, a total of 47 cartons of suspected fake Tramadol, comprising 2,350,000 tablets, weighing 1222kg were seized in Zaria on Monday 25th April while a dealer, Chinedu Asogwa was arrested the following day 26th April along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 2919 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, measuring 291.9litres and a gross weight of 396kg, he said.
Also, 2,919 bottles of codeine were intercepted in the state.