Engineer arrested over drugs hidden in pressure machines

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Phillip Inya who claims to be a building engineer, while attempting to take delivery of illicit consignments concealed in pressure machines imported from South Africa.

The 42-year-old engineer was arrested at Okeyson Motor Park in Enugu when he showed up to collect three units of pressure machines inside which were hidden parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.40 kilograms on Monday, December 2, 2024.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday, December 8.

Babafemi disclosed that the consignments had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State on November 29.

Babafemi said NDLEA officers, following credible intelligence, monitored the shipment pass through clearing processes up to a logistics company’s warehouse outside the airport where it was to be collected by the consignee.

“The importer however changed the point of collection to Enugu at the last minute. As a result, NDLEA operatives in a follow-up operation in Enugu arrested Egwu when he showed up to collect the consignments,” he added.

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Babafemi stated that the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation lectures to schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities among others in the past week.

The NDLEA spokesman listed the activities to include WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Progressive Secondary School, Ado Awaye, Oyo State; Muslim Grammar School, Ede, Osun State; Government Girls College, Maiduguri, Borno State; and Community Secondary School, Ogale, Rivers State.

Others are Santa Maria Secondary School, Igogoro, Enugu State; and Chiranci Upper Basic Junior Secondary School, Bichi, Kano State; while Lagos State command of NDLEA organised WADA enlightenment lecture for leaders and members of NURTW, Orile Agege, Lagos, among others.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrest and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts were well appreciated.

The Star