NDLEA seizes drugs hidden in candles, ladies’ wears at Lagos airport

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine and Loud concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and ladies’ native wears at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu, was on Thursday, July 18, 2024, arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this via a statement on Sunday, July 21, said a search of Alebiosu’s home also led to the recovery of more exhibits, including some drug paraphernalia, such as, weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit.

Babafemi noted that four vaping machines were recovered from the suspect’s business premises on Admiralty Way in the Lekki area of Lagos.

He stated that a Mikano black truck was also recovered from Alebiosu’s house.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that the anti-narcotic operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport, on Friday, July 19, intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan.

Babafemi said the bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves, and other food items which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg.

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Babafemi noted that further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi, who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise, based in the South Asia country.

He disclosed that the NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the Lagos airport, on Thursday, July 18, intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses.

The NDLEA spokesman revealed that the suspect was going to Dubai via Accra in Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Emirates Airline.

Babafemi stated that a thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears.

“The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai,” he disclosed.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated.

Marwa urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

The Star