14th November, 2021
Fresh consignments of Cocaine and Heroin with a combined weight of 16.85 kilograms worth over N4.9 billion in street value have been seized at the Apapa seaport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, both in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy of NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, confirmed the development in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement said four persons are currently being investigated for the 13.65kg Cocaine seized onboard a ship, MV Karteria that came into the Apapa port from Santos, Brazil on Sunday 7th November, barely three weeks after 32.9kg of Cocaine was intercepted at the port on another vessel, MV Chayanee Naree, also from Santos, Brazil.
The statement further reads:
“In well-coordinated follow-up operations, no fewer than five persons have been arrested in different parts of Lagos and Delta state in connection to the seizure of 3.200kg Heroin found on a passenger, Christian Osondu at the E- Arrival hall of the MMIA, on Friday 5th November, during the inward clearance of Air Peace flight passengers from South Africa. A swift follow-up operation the same day led to the arrest of one Ude Onyeka Victor, at the Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos.
“Ude Onyeka confessed that his elder brother, Ikenna Ude, who is based in South Africa, had instructed him to collect the bag containing the drug and hand it over to another person who was supposed to come from Delta State.
“A second follow-up operation led to the arrest of Abanjo Innocent who came to Lagos from Delta State to pick the bag containing the drug around Cele Bus stop, Okota, on Saturday 6th November.
“He also confessed that he was contracted by one Oseki Chinedu, who is based in South Africa to travel to Lagos to collect the bag and bring it to Agbor junction, Delta State. The third follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ihator Theophilus Isioma at Agbor Junction, Delta State on Sunday 7th November.”
Babafemi also noted that NDLEA operatives on Saturday 13th November arrested one Obeluo Emeka from Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State with 600 grams of Heroin.
He said the suspect who is a motor spare parts dealer based in Douala, Cameroon had arrived at Yenagoa by waterway to waybill the substance to an undisclosed address in Lagos.
He added that: “No less than four suspects were arrested and different quantities of cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, and Methamphetamine seized from them during weekend raids at Rumuokoro, Elelenwo and Omagwa/Elele communities in Rivers state. Those arrested includes; Elizabeth Iniama; Sir King Emmanuel; God gift King; and Amadi Bright.
“A total of 18.51kg of assorted illicit drugs were recovered on Saturday 13th November when operatives raided a neighborhood of Bayan Gari, and Sir Ahmadu Bello Way, Bauchi town, Bauchi state where two suspects; Mr. Gabriel Iwagbunan and Ms. Cecilia Ezena were arrested.
“While 23-year-old Hadiza Ibrahim was arrested on Saturday 12th November along Okene-Lokoja highway with 54kg of cannabis, one Sunday Nnam a.k.a Idowu was nabbed same day in Emene area of Enugu with 45kg of same substance. In the same vein, one Umar Muhammad was arrested with 25,700 capsules of Tramadol weighing 15.1kg in Tudun Hatsi area of Gombe.
“In Ogun state, following credible intelligence, two suspects; David Oduku, and Ifeanyi Raphael, were intercepted along Ore- Shagamu expressway with 364.98kg of cannabis being conveyed in a blue Toyota Sienna bus, while two suspects; Buhari Jamiu and Ajibola Jimoh were arrested in the early hours of Sunday 14th November with 189kg of cannabis at Olorunlagba, Bode Saadu area of Kwara state.
“While commending the officers and men of Apapa port command and MMIA as well as their counterparts in Bayelsa, Rivers, Bauchi, Kogi, Enugu, Gombe, Ogun, and Kwara states for sustaining the maxim of offensive action against drug cartels in the country, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues in other Commands to remain vigilant at all times.”