Grandma, pregnant woman, others arrested over 5,527.15kg Meth, cannabis

A 60-year-old grandmother, Ibinosun Sandra Esther, and a pregnant woman, Kate Ibinabo, have been arrested in connection with 5,527.15 kilograms of methamphetamine and cannabis sativa recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Esther was arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in a follow-up operation following the seizure of 5.5kg Loud variant of cannabis imported into the country from South Africa.

The consignment, which she claimed was sent to her by her daughter, was concealed in two big Speakers as part of a consolidated cargo that arrived at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State on board an Air Peace Airline flight.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this via a statement made available to The Star on Sunday.

Babafemi noted that the anti-narcotics officers, on Saturday, arrested a 29-year-old pregnant woman, Ibinabo with 34.4kgs cannabis sativa in Okrika area of Rivers State.

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He disclosed that the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has however directed that the pregnant woman be granted administrative bail pending when she delivered her baby and returns for her prosecution, noting that at the time of the woman’s arrest, she was in her ninth month of pregnancy.

Babafemi noted that the NDLEA operatives, on Saturday, November 26, intercepted 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside custard tins packed among cosmetics and foodstuffs going to Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.

He stated that a cargo agent, Salako Omolara Fausat, who brought the bag containing the illicit drug to the airport, and an intending passenger to Brazil, Anyanwu Christian, who was to travel with the consignment were promptly arrested by the operatives of the anti-drug agency.

The NDLEA spokesman added that another attempt by a freight agent, Adebisi Aina Hafsat, to export 3,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts to Banjul, Gambia through the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport was thwarted by operatives of the anti-drug agency who seized the consignment and arrested her on Monday, November 28.

Babafemi noted that a follow-up operation to Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State on Tuesday led to the arrest of the actual owner, Afam Chibuke Stanley, who is a spare parts seller.

He stated that the arrest was followed by the seizure of 100,000 tablets of Royal brand of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 68.90 kilograms imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Ethiopian Airlines at Lagos airport.

Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman urged the officers of the anti-drug agency and their counterparts across other formations to continue to step up their offensives against drug cartels.

The Star