Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in carton walls, winter jackets, and body cream containers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a courier firm in Lagos.
The operations foiled attempts by traffickers to smuggle drugs to destinations including Italy and New Zealand. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said two consignments bound for Italy were seized at the airport, leading to arrests.
On March 20, Friday Ehianuka, 37, was apprehended while trying to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome. He had 2,698 tramadol 225mg pills hidden in skin-lightening cream containers. The suspect, a Milan resident, admitted he was to be paid in euros upon delivery.
On March 18, Christian Agbonhese, 38, was caught trying to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan with 28,470 opioid pills—including 23,150 tramadol 225mg, 4,000 tapentadol 250mg, and 1,320 tramadol 100mg—hidden in two large winter jackets.
At a Lagos courier firm, officers seized two parcels of 1kg “Loud” cannabis shipped from the United States and a consignment containing 158g of methamphetamine concealed in carton walls destined for New Zealand.
Beyond Lagos, major seizures occurred nationwide. In Kano, Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, and Uche Johnson Festus, 47, were arrested with 198kg of skunk. In Edo, 97.5kg of skunk was recovered in Akoko-Edo. In Oyo, 71.2kg of skunk was seized. In Kaduna, over 586,000 tramadol and other opioid pills were confiscated. In the FCT, officers recovered 91,840 tramadol pills from a commercial bus.
In Lagos, 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered during a raid in Otto, Ijora, and two suspects were arrested on the Third Mainland Bridge with 8,380 bottles of the substance. Additional seizures occurred in Taraba and Adamawa states.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
