Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to export 3.3 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cartons of food items destined for the United Kingdom.
According to the agency, Chinedu, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on July 23 after NDLEA officers intercepted the cocaine consignment at the export section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a day earlier.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim who handled the shipment.
The agency said further investigations resulted in the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
According to Babafemi, information obtained from Okakpu led investigators to identify Chinedu as the alleged mastermind behind the drug trafficking operation.
He added that Chinedu was arrested while allegedly attempting to send another cocaine consignment to the United Kingdom.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo after intercepting a 2.8kg consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States on a United Airlines flight.
The agency also announced the seizure of 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, with an estimated street value of more than ₦2.2 billion, during a joint inspection of cargo that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.
According to NDLEA, the operation was carried out based on intelligence and followed the recent interception of a shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap and destined for the United Kingdom.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg and valued at more than ₦7.1 billion. The illicit drugs were hidden inside three vehicles loaded into a shipping container.
In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani after allegedly recovering 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed on him during a patrol operation in Baure, Safana Local Government Area.
Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers allegedly discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of red oil.
The agency said both suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where they recovered 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds.
The agency also arrested two suspects during the operation. Ojore Onweze, 45, was allegedly found in possession of 60kg of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was arrested with 13kg of the substance.
The NDLEA said the operations form part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activities across the country.
