The National Law and Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized kilos of hard drugs bound for Cyprus from a syndicate.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi made this known on Sunday in Abuja.
He disclosed that Lagos-based courier firms were to export the drugs to destinations in Europe, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Asia.
The anti-narcotics agency says the hard drugs, which included methamphetamine, tramadol, and other psychoactive substances, were sewn into the hems of jean trousers or stuffed in dolls, buttons, soaps, and beverage tins.
The interception points to the involvement of Lagos-based courier firms in facilitating the export of illicit drugs. This revelation raises questions about the extent of collaboration between drug traffickers and seemingly legitimate businesses. The NDLEA’s investigation into these courier firms is likely to shed light on the network’s intricacies and the methods employed to transport narcotics across borders.
The intended destinations of the intercepted drugs include Cyprus, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. This revelation emphasizes the global nature of the illicit drug trade and the need for international cooperation to tackle drug trafficking effectively. The NDLEA’s success in intercepting these drugs before they could reach their destinations underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in combating transnational crime.
The interception also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in dealing with the evolving tactics of drug traffickers. As syndicates become more sophisticated, law enforcement must continually adapt their strategies and employ advanced technologies to detect hidden narcotics. The NDLEA’s success in this operation showcases the agency’s determination to stay ahead of drug traffickers and protect communities from the harmful effects of illicit substances
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi made this known on Sunday in Abuja.
He disclosed that Lagos-based courier firms were to export the drugs to destinations in Europe, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Asia.
“The drugs were concealed in the hems of new jeans and trousers heading to Cyprus; a shipment of Indian hemp hidden in the heads of dolls was also heading to Dubai, UAE.
“Sachets of tramadol were also buried in beverage tins and in local soaps bound for the UAE, while a consignment of methamphetamine concealed in buttons was heading to Hong Kong.
“A shipment of another illicit substance coming from Florida, U.S.A., was equally intercepted at a courier firm.
“NDLEA officers tracked the recipient, Daniel Ogi, to Ajao Estate, Lagos, on Friday, November 24, and arrested him,’’ Mr Babafemi stated.
He added that on December 1, NDLEA operatives arrested a drug kingpin, Okechukwu Ogala (56), who specialises in exploiting and recruiting young Nigerians to export meth to Asian countries.
Mr Ogala was arrested at a hotel in the Okota area of Lagos with 60 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.009kg.
Mr Babafemi said NDLEA operatives also seized 393kg of Indian hemp in a shop at Akala, Mushin, on December 1.
The NDLEA spokesman added that a suspect, Justin Enuonye, who deals in Canadian “Loud’’ was arrested by the police at Victoria Island.
“He was transferred to the NDLEA in Lagos State on the same day with 154 parcels of the substance weighing 92kgs.
“A team of NDLEA operatives also intercepted a vehicle at the Oyingbo area of Lagos and seized 108kg of Indian hemp from it.
“In another raid, operatives seized 675kg also of Indian hemp from the store of a wanted dealer, Wahab Olota, at Adedoja area of Mushin, Lagos State,’’ Mr Babafemi stated
