NDLEA recovers UK-bound cocaine hidden in automobile parts, cloths

Multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy-duty automobile pivot shafts and Ghanaian fabric, fondly called Kente, among others have been recovered by the officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

While 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional Kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday, August 5, 2024, 10.494kg of the same class A drug hidden in heavy-duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drugs.

This was disclosed via a statement issued by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, August 11.

Babafemi noted that the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments was 12.814 kilograms.

He stated that five other consignments going to the U.S., UK, and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday, August 9.

He listed the seized consignments to include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials, different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection, and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.

NDLEA seizes cocaine hidden in businessman’s sandals at Lagos airport

The NDLEA spokesman said the anti-narcotic officers, in a different logistics company in Lagos, recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 10kg coming from the U.S. and meant for delivery in Abuja.

Babafemi disclosed that the NDLEA operatives, in another intelligence-led operation on Wednesday, August 7, arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra state.

Babafemi noted that two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town in Anambra State were also arrested on Thursday, August 8, in a follow-up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, the Edo State capital, the same day.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the 44-year-old bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, was arrested at Benin tollgate with 2.865kg cocaine, adding that 40-year-old Izuchkwu Arinze was apprehended at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate.

He stated that 39-year-old Ameachi Okoro was arrested while trying to collect his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), urged them to continue with their current balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

The Star