NDLEA seizes multi-billion naira cocaine hidden in pivot shafts, kente fabric

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized multi-billion naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy-duty automobile pivot shafts, Ghanaian Kente fabric, and other items.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said that 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials destined for the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos.

Babafemi said further searches revealed 10.494 kilograms of cocaine buried in heavy-duty pivot shafts heading to the United States, recovered at the same logistics company after NDLEA sniffer dogs detected the illicit drug.

The operation, spanning the country, resulted in the seizure of 12.814 kilograms of cocaine and over 1,500 kilograms of cannabis.

In addition to the cocaine seizures, Babafemi revealed that five other consignments destined for the US, UK, and Canada were intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday, 9th August 2024.

These included 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection, and co-codamol pills, all heading to the UK, as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.

In another logistics company in Lagos, Babafemi said operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10kg, coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.

In another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 7th August, arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra State, were also arrested on Thursday, 8th August, in a follow-up operation, following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus in Benin, Edo State, the same day.

While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked up at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams of sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick up his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday, 7th August, intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which was one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.

The seizure was made during a 100 per cent joint examination with men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders. The following day, Thursday, 8th August, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of the same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613, which came from Canada.