•16 suspects held
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted parcels of cocaine allegedly concealed in a travel bag brought into Nigeria by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The suspect came in to the country from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement yesterday.
Babafemi said Uchemadu was arrested on December 5 following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70kg factory-sealed in parts of his travel bag.
NDLEA operatives, on the same day at the SAHCO export shed of the airport, also intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4kg of cannabis headed for Dubai, UAE.
A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril who presented the consignment for export has been arrested.
The statement reads, “… parcels of cannabis weighing 6.30kg concealed in sound systems (speakers) going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO export shed of the airport were also seized on December 8 by the operatives who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later the following day, Dec 9, nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew in a follow-up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos.
“At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances.
“Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on December 10 led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.”