NDLEA dismantles drug trafficking syndicate – The Sun Nigeria

• As businessman en route to Paris excretes 111 packets of cocaine at Abuja airport

By Godwin Tsa Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emmanuel Okechuku Orjinze, a 48-year-old businessman on his way to Paris, France, for ingesting 111 packets of cocaine, which he excreted after days in custody following his arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

Okechukwu, who also claims to be a professional footballer in Europe, was arrested on Tuesday, May 21, by agents of the agency, during the exit clearance of Airfrance AF flight 878 from Abuja to Paris, France.

After a body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs, he was taken into custody where he excreted a total of 111 cocaine pellets weighing 1,603 kilograms over a three-day period. The suspect claimed he was doing business in the maritime sector while looking for a European football club to hire him.

A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, said in another operation, NDLEA operatives operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos, busted another drug trafficking syndicate. drugs at the airport.

This followed the arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8 kg of methamphetamine and 7.60 kg of Loud, a synthetic variety of cannabis imported from South Africa.

The lid was blown when an airport system official was intercepted with a backpack and a bag in the departure hall of Terminal 1 of the airport by NDLEA operatives with the support of aviation security officers on Tuesday May 21, 2024. A search of the bags led to the discovery of illicit substances.

A quick follow-up operation in the Ajao Estate area of ​​Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu. Further investigation led to the arrest of another cartel member working in the airport system on Saturday (May 25).

In related news, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO Export Shed at the Lagos Airport arrested a cargo agent, Sonubi Mariam Abiodun, for her attempt to transport 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2kg hidden in three of six paint buckets containing shea butter packaged for export. in the United Kingdom on Wednesday May 22.

In another part of Lagos, precisely at Igbo Elerin, Ojo Local Government Area, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, May 21, arrested a suspect, Odumegwu Obijo, for producing and distributing skuchies, a blackcurrant concoction and illicit drugs. No less than 2,480 liters of New Psychoactive Substance, NPS, were recovered from his clandestine factory during his arrest.

In Cross River State, while Ogar Emmanuel was arrested with 2.5kg of cannabis in Ukpada Utugwan village, 29 bags of the same substance weighing 290kg were recovered from the warehouse of a another suspect, Usani Ikpi, currently on the run. Three suspects: Sa'adu Sule, 23; Mukhtar Noura, 23 years old; and Hamza Nura, 18, were arrested at Jabiri Funtua, Katsina State, on Friday, May 24, with 129 blocks of cannabis weighing 70kg from Ogere, Ogun State.

No less than five suspects including: Ezekiel Munda, 30 years old; and Sule Mustapha, 21, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Thursday, May 23 during raids at Karu Abattoir, Jikwoyi and Tora Bora Hills area of ​​the FCT, Abuja, where 95.01 kg of cannabis and various quantities of opioids were recovered from them.

In Edo State, operatives arrested a notorious drug peddler, Zekere Sufianu, 45, who is physically challenged, in Auchi town on Wednesday, May 22. At the time of his arrest, he was found with 751 grams of Loud, 178 grams of tramadol and swinol tablets.

Similarly, the Agency's various commands across the country continued WADA's advocacy campaign against drug abuse over the past week.

Some of these include: AMA Outreach Conference for students and teachers of Baptist Grammar School, Iresi, Osun; students and teachers of Anwar-Ul-Islam High School, Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State; students of Shalom Secondary School, Saminaka, Kaduna; students of Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, Gombe; students of Pakoto High School, Ifo, Ogun State; students of Nwafor-Orizu Demonstration Secondary School, Awka, Anambra and Muslim worshipers of Central Mosque, Abudu, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo State.

While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, FCT, Lagos, Cross River, Katsina and Edo commands of the Agency for their exceptional exploits over the past week, the NDLEA Chief Executive Officer, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) also applauded his counterparts from all commands in the country for intensifying their advocacy conferences to WADA.