Lagos airport cleaner arrested for leading drug syndicate

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a cleaner who leads a drug syndicate at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The cleaner, identified as Sunday Ohiagu, was nabbed by the NDLEA operatives on Tuesday following the arrest of an intending passenger on an Air Peace flight to Dubai, UAE, Obinna Jacob Osita who was arrested with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 4.25kg concealed in cassava product, gari, and crayfish.

This was disclosed via a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi stated that one other member of the airport syndicate who works with Ohiagu was also been arrested while the operatives of the anti-drug agency are after another suspect.

He noted that the Dubai-based drug dealer recruited Osita, a 42-year-old native of Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State to traffic the drugs and equally contracted Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner from Orlu West Local Government Area of Imo State to create access for the unhindered passage of the trafficker.

“The drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new terminal of the MMIA comes on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of bottles of viju and fearless energy drinks used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE through the NAHCO export shed on Monday 15th August.

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“A freight agent has already been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the NDLEA spokesman stated.

Babafemi added that the NDLEA operatives also foiled an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through the Lagos airport on Wednesday during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline to Oman via Addis Ababa.

He disclosed that a suspect, Jonah Chukwuemeka, was arrested with 1,995 Tramadol tablets with a gross weight of 900 grams hidden in locust beans in his luggage.

“The bag containing the illicit substance was handed over to him at the airport by one Olagunju Abbas who was promptly arrested.

“Packs of Tramadol 225mg containing 119,500 capsules were Thursday 25th Aug transferred to NDLEA by the Nigeria Customs, cargo wing of MMIA. The consignment had come in through Ethiopian Airline from Pakistan,” Babafemi added.

Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the anti-drug agency officers just as he charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars.

The Star