NDLEA seizes China, UK-bound drugs hidden in steel bolts, shea butter

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter at a courier firm in Lagos State.

While the cocaine weighing 587 grams was concealed in eight steel bolt screws going to China, the amphetamine consignment packed in vape pens and hidden in shea butter was going to the United Kingdom (UK).

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed this via a statement issued on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Babafemi revealed that the illicit drugs were intercepted by the NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) attached to a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, May 15.

He added that an attempt by Emeka Nwadiaro, fondly called Mega to export 3.6kg Loud, a strain of cannabis, concealed in 36 water flasks to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was also thwarted at a logistic company in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday, May 16.

NDLEA arrests 75-year-old man, 70-year-old woman for drug dealing

Babafemi noted that a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Emeka Nwadiaro, in Onitsha, Anambra State, the same day.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that the anti-narcotic officers also intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus loaded with 840kg cannabis and arrested the driver, Samuel Henry, at Olojo in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

He said another suspect, Lawal Adam, was nabbed along Otukpo Road in the Aliade area of Benue State on Friday, May 17, with 75,000 pills of opioids, including tramadol and exol-5.

According to him, two suspects – Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25 – were arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway in Imo State following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cylinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg.

Babafemi further revealed that the NDLEA officers arrested four suspects in connection with the seizure of 2,025 pieces of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) materials intercepted in a Toyota Hummer bus marked AGL 905 XX along Agaie-Lapai Road in Niger State.

He said two suspects conveying the IED materials, Abdulrauf Shitu Adeyemi and Asmiyu Rahim, were arrested on the spot, while follow-up operations led to the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect, Husaini Abdullahi, at Sokoto main market in Sokoto and 37-year-old Nazifi Abdullahi at Naibawa Motor Park in Kano on Friday, May 17.

He added that NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that all four suspects and the explosive materials be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

The Star