The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine and cannabis concealed in food flasks and snack packs, and arrested several suspects in a series of operations across the country.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on April 9 intercepted 12 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.80 kilogrammes concealed in false bottoms of food flasks.
He said the consignment was bound for the United Kingdom.
“Two cargo agents, Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of a 52-year-old freight forwarder, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, identified as the sender,” he said.
In a related development, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the airport on April 8 intercepted 2.90kg of ‘Loud’, a strong strain of cannabis, concealed in snack packs on a flight from the United States.
He said two clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested, while the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, 29, was later apprehended in a follow-up operation in Ogba, Lagos.
According to him, NDLEA operatives also intercepted 847kg of cannabis along the Kaduna-Zaria highway on April 13.
Babafemi said the illicit substance was concealed in a truck loaded with cement heading to Hadeja, Jigawa, adding that the driver, Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested.
He further said a 53-year-old woman, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on April 16 during a raid on a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River.
He said about 15,000kg of cannabis cultivated on six hectares of farmland was destroyed, while 119kg was recovered.
Similarly, Babafemi said operatives raided a cannabis farm at Saboro camp in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo on April 14, destroying 2,281.43kg of the substance.
He said three suspects — Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45 — were arrested.
“Christopher Egbe and Monday Ayan were found in possession of 38.5kg of cannabis and seeds,” he said.
Babafemi also said two suspects, Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were arrested in Delta with 87.838kg of cannabis.
In Lagos, he said NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu, on April 15 at Mile 2 while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital to Ghana.
He added that a raid on a building on Lagos Island led to the recovery of 95.8kg of cannabis.
Babafemi said the agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools and communities across the country.
He quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, as commending officers for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged them to sustain the momentum in drug supply reduction and public enlightenment efforts.
