NDLEA arrests Ghanaian, two Nigerians at Enugu, Abuja airports with 9.9kg cocaine, Meth

•Nabs two Nigeriens in Delta, seizes one million Tramadol capsules in Ondo, others in Anambra, Kogi

A Ghanaian and two Nigerians have been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu respectively by operatives of National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for trafficking a total of 9.953 kilogrammes of cocaine and Methamphetamine.

One of the suspects, Uzoh Ndubuisi Johnson, was arrested on Wednesday, December 8, about 5:30p.m. during an inward screening of Ethiopian Airlines passengers at the Arrival Hall of the airport.

Uzoh, who arrived from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was arrested with clothes impregnated with cocaine, which has a gross weight of 6.7 kilogrammes.

The suspect, during an interview by narcotic officers, said he was given the consignment by his enabler based in Brazil, for which he would be paid N3 million upon successful delivery to someone in Nigeria.

Similarly, another trafficker, 53-year-old Udeh Charley was arrested by NDLEA at the Enugu airport for ingesting 72 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.253kilogrammes.

He was arrested on Friday, December 3, during outward screening of Ethiopian Airlines passengers going to Rome, Italy via Addis Ababa.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said Charley claimed he would have been paid 4000 Euros on successful delivery of the drugs in Italy where he has been living for over 20 years.

The suspect attributed his decision to engage in the ignominious trade on the downward turn of his business as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Another trafficker,  25-year-old John Kadja, whose father is from Kumasi, Ashanti region of Ghana and mother from Nsukka, Enugu State was arrested on Friday, December 3, with two kilogrammes of Methamphetamine during an outward clearance of Qatar Airways from Abuja to Doha at the departure screening area of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Babafemi said a search of his bag showed that the drug was concealed in a false bottom of his checked in luggage. He said he was travelling to Doha to work as a labourer.

Udeh

While also commenting on the arrests made by the agency, Babafemi stated: “ In Ondo State, 43-year-old Onuoha Friday was arrested on Friday, December 10 , along Lagos-Benin expressway with one million capsules of Tramadol while in two major arrests in Anambra State, a total of 238.973kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs were recovered.”

The NDLEA spokesperson equally said: “On Friday, December 3, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck at the Onitsha Head Bridge heading to Delta State.

“Upon search, various quantities of Codeine, Tramadol, Diazepam, and Rohypnol were recovered from the vehicle and its driver, Obinna Obinwa, arrested.

“Similarly, on Wednesday, December 8, the agency’s patrol team on Onitsha Head Bridge intercepted another truck going to Delta with different quantities of assorted illicit drugs while the driver, Lucky James, was also arrested.

“In Delta, raids and follow up operations carried out in parts of the state on Friday, December 10, led to the arrest of a 17-year-old Abdulkarim Shiabu and 23-year-old Lawal Saidu, both from Niger Republic and four others with different quantities of cocaine, heroin, Methamphetamine, Tramadol and Cannabis.

“Others arrested include: Precious Oghenegwoke, Loveth Omukoro, Uche Godwin and Uti Harrison.

“In Kogi, Adam Salaudeen was arrested at Ogori Magongo area of the state with 214.7kg of Cannabis sativa.

“Commending the officers and men of Enugu, Abuja airports commands and their counterparts in Ondo, Anambra and Kogi states for the arrests and seizures in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and resolute in the collective mission to rid every part of Nigeria of illicit drugs.”