Sola
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Paris-bound businessman who excreted 111 wraps of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the suspect, 48-year-old Emmanuel Orjinze, excreted the wraps after days of observation in the agency’s custody.
Babafemi stated that Orjinze, who also claimed to be a professional footballer in Europe, was arrested on Tuesday during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 878 from Abuja to Paris, France.
“After a body scan confirmed he ingested illicit drugs, he was taken into custody where he excreted a total of 111 pellets of cocaine.
“These pellets of cocaine weighed 1.603 kilograms and were excreted over a period of three days.
“The suspect claimed he does business in the maritime sector while still scouting for any European football club to engage him,” Babafemi said.
Drug syndicate nabbed in MMIA
In a related development, Babafemi reported that NDLEA officers operating at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, have dismantled another drug trafficking syndicate.
According to him, this followed the arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8 kg of methamphetamine and 7.60 kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa.
Babafemi said the lid was blown off the syndicate when an official within the airport system was intercepted with a backpack and a bag at the departure hall of Terminal 1 by NDLEA officers with the support of Aviation Security officers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
“A search of the bags led to the discovery of the illicit substances.
“A swift follow-up operation at the Ajao Estate area of Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of another member of the cartel working within the airport system on Saturday, May 25,” he said.
Freight agent nabbed with cocaine
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) export shed at Lagos airport have arrested a freight agent, Mariam Sonubi.
Babafemi said the suspect was arrested for attempting to cargo 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2 kg. The drugs were concealed in three out of six paint buckets containing shea butter packaged for export to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 22.
In another part of Lagos, specifically at Igbo Elerin in Ojo Local Government Area, NDLEA officers on Tuesday arrested a suspect, Odumegwu Obijofor, for producing and distributing “scoochies,” a mixture of black currant and illicit drugs.
Babafemi said that no fewer than 2,480 litres of the New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) were recovered from his clandestine factory at the time of his arrest.
Additionally, Babafemi reported that one Ogar Emmanuel was arrested with 2.5 kg of cannabis at Ukpada Utugwan village. Twenty-nine sacks of the same substance weighing 290 kg were recovered from the warehouse of another suspect, Usani Ikpi, who is currently at large.
“Three suspects: Sa’adu Sule, 23; Mukhtar Nura, 23; and Hamza Nura, 18, were nabbed at Jabiri Funtua, Katsina state on Friday.
“They were arrested with 129 blocks of cannabis weighing 70 kg coming from Ogere, Ogun,” he said.
No fewer than five suspects, including Ezekiel Munda, 30, and Sule Mustapha, 21, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Thursday during raids at Karu Abattoir, Jikwoyi, and Tora Bora Hill area of the FCT, Abuja.
Babafemi stated that 95.01 kg of cannabis and different quantities of opioids were recovered from them.
“In Edo, operatives arrested a physically-challenged notorious drug dealer, Zekere Sufianu, 45, at Auchi town on Wednesday. At the time of his arrest, he was found with 751 grams of Loud, 178 grams of Tramadol, and pills of swinol,” Babafemi said
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