Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos have uncovered consignments of cocaine and “Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in various items including incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and ladies’ wears.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the illicit substances were intended to be smuggled in and out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), as reported by Channels Television.
The anti-narcotic agency made several arrests in connection with these smuggling attempts.
“A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu, was arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence on Thursday, July 18, 2024, after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker sets, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight, was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination with Customs Service personnel,” the statement read.
A search of Alebiosu’s home led to the recovery of additional drug paraphernalia, including a weighing scale and a cannabis potency test kit, along with four vaping machines from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki. A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also seized from his house.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of MMIA intercepted two jumbo bags destined for Pakistan on Friday, July 19. The bags, containing dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves, and other food items, concealed four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, weighing 1.360 kg. This led to the arrest of businesswoman Eze Queen Ogechi, who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on her brother Eze Nnamdi Promise’s instructions.
Also, NDLEA officers at Terminal II, Departure Gate of MMIA, intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, on Thursday, July 18. Traveling with a bag containing female native dresses, Amen was heading to Dubai via Accra, Ghana, on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting Emirates Airline flight to Dubai.
A thorough search revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10 kg concealed in the dresses. Amen claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of ₦600,000 upon successful delivery in Dubai.
NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers for their operational successes, urging them to continue intensifying efforts in reducing drug supply and demand.
