NDLEA intercepts N2.1bn drugs at Rivers seaport, Lagos airport

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, worth over N2,185,000,000 at the Port Harcourt seaport in the Onne area of Rivers State and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies, on Friday, May 31, 2024, intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis, was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by NDLEA officers, Customs, and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto in Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria.

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Babafemi noted that Francis, during his interview, claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of N6 million.

He said the NDLEA officers, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex on Monday, May 27, intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.

Babafemi stated that during a joint examination of the container by the anti-drug agency, Customs, and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000 were discovered.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrest and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have in no small measure reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigeria.

Marwa also charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.

The Star