NDLEA seizes UK-bound drugs hidden in tiger nuts, cartons of noodles

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled an attempt by a man, Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji, to send 32.50kg bottles of codeine syrup and 5.70kg cannabis concealed in tiger nuts cargo to London in the United Kingdom through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Babafemi revealed that the attempt to export the illicit drugs was frustrated by NDLEA operatives on Friday, November 8.

He said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Orji at his warehouse in Ajao Estate, Lagos.

He stated that the NDLEA officers also intercepted a 700 grams consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, at the Lagos airport, on Tuesday, November 5.

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Babafemi said a software engineer, Olu Marshal, who showed up to collect the package was promptly arrested, adding that a follow-up search of his home in Lekki, Lagos State, led to the recovery of some drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that the officers of the anti-drug intercepted a truck along the Abaji-Kwali road in Abuja with 755.50kg of cannabis concealed under empty cartons of noodles

Babafemi revealed that the truck was intercepted by the anti-narcotic officers on Thursday, November 7, adding that the truck driver, 41-year-old Lukman Rasheed, claimed that bags of the psychoactive substance were loaded into the trailer in the Ogbese area of Ondo State after departing Lagos State with only empty cartons of noodles.

While commending the anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), also applauded them for intensifying the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation lectures and advocacy messages in the country.

The Star