A 29-year-old man has been arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after attempting to smuggle in 13.30kg of heroin, worth an estimated N3.192 billion.  
 
Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, was apprehended on Monday, October 7, following his arrival from Thailand via Qatar Airways.
 
The suspect had travelled from Thailand to Doha on October 3, spending two days in the Qatari capital before flying to Lagos. His luggage, however, was initially routed to Accra, Ghana.  
 
Upon arriving in Lagos, Oguejiofor contacted the airline to reroute his bags to Nigeria, intending to collect them as ‘rush bags’ to circumvent security checks.
   
However, his plan was foiled by vigilant National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers who intercepted him as he attempted to leave the airport. 
   
A search of his two suitcases revealed six backpacks, each containing a large parcel of heroin carefully sewn into the lining. The total weight of the seized drugs was 13.30kg.
   
During questioning, Oguejiofor claimed he had been hired to deliver the heroin for a fee of $7,000. He was supposed to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the remaining four in Accra.
   
Also, in a series of coordinated operations, the NDLEA intercepted massive shipments of opioids at three Nigerian seaports.   
   
A total of 32.6 million tramadol pills, worth over N12.5 billion, and 1.4 million bottles of codeine-based syrup, with a street value of N10.1 billion, were seized at the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa seaport in Lagos, and Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.  
   
The combined value of the seized opioids is estimated at N22.7 billion.
   
The illicit consignments were discovered in containers flagged by the NDLEA based on intelligence reports.  Joint examinations of the containers were conducted with the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies between Monday, October 7 and Friday, October 11.
 
Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Anambra State arrested 29-year-old Okelue Chidera on Saturday, October 12, with 50,000 tramadol tablets in Onitsha. 
   
In Edo State, a raid on a cannabis transit point in Aviose, Owan West Local Council, resulted in the seizure of 70 bags of cannabis weighing 1,050kg and the arrest of 38-year-old Monday Akele.  
   
Another raid in Ovia North East Local Council led to the seizure of 110kg of cannabis.