Suspects in NDLEA custody
NDLEA discovers meth, skunk concealed in women’s shoes, seizes drug consignment at Lagos airport
Operatives of the anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reported intercepting consignments of various quantities of methamphetamine (meth) and skunk designated for export through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja and courier companies in Lagos by suspected members of some transnational drug trafficking cartel.
According to NDLEA, in its weekly report, released by its Spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, Sunday, said its operatives stationed at the Lagos airport, last Tuesday, September 12 intercepted an intending passenger going to Oman, Ugwu Peter Tochukwu, while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight.
“Upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf.
“In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilograms of skunk and 14 grams of methamphetamine concealed in bags of ‘Semovita’ and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively.
“In Imo state, operatives on patrol along Aba-Owerri expressway on Wednesday 13th September intercepted five pregnant teenage girls suspected to be victims of child trafficking used as baby factory. “They were picked up while being relocated from their hideout in Naze area of Owerri to Ikenegbu area of the state capital.
“The victims include: Chioma Emmanuel, 15; Uma Faith, 15; Divine Adimonye, 17; Opara Gift, 15; and Amarachi Mbata, 16. In their statements, they claimed they didn’t know the men who impregnated them. The Imo state command of the Agency has since been directed to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.
“While two suspects: Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1kgs of cannabis on Tuesday 11th September at Ikebe village, Ankpa LGA, Kogi state, a female suspect, Bilikisu Salako, 35, was nabbed with 108kgs of same substance on Saturday 16th September in Ifo area of Ogun state.
“A total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru on Tuesday 11th September along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano,” the NDLEA reported.
Similarly, the agency said its operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrested a 27-year-old man, identified as ‘Kingsley Chimaobi with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road on Tuesday 11th September.’
In other development, the agency disclosed that a Federal High Court in Lagos ‘on Wednesday 13th September sentenced to five years imprisonment a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilograms of skunk’
“He was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki. He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko,” the agency said.
