Nigeria’s anti-drug agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says that its operatives have seized 649,300 capsules of tramadol at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos that €809,850 cash, which is suspected to be proceeds of illicit drugs, was also seized from two other persons.
According to the statement, a suspect, identified as Nwadu Ekene Christian, was arrested in connection with the seizure of the tramadol capsules and that other illicit drugs such as cannabis were intercepted at the airport.
“At the Skyway Aviation Handling Company cargo warehouse at the airport, anti-narcotic officers seized 649,300 capsules of tramadol 225mg weighing 460.95kg imported from Pakistan via Addis Ababa through Ethiopian airline on Wednesday 16th of February. Nwadu Ekene Christian, a suspect, was arrested in connection with the seizure,” the statement said.
“On the same day, a female passenger, Ms. Ayeki Happy, who arrived the airport from Italy on Turkish airline flight, was arrested with 69,850 Euros cash concealed in her luggage.
“This was four days after another lady, Precious Idahagbon, was arrested with 740,000 euros cash hidden in her luggage and undeclared upon her arrival at the airport from Vienna, Austria via Istanbul, Turkey.
“Both cash seizures are currently under investigation to establish if they are proceeds of drug business.
“At the NAHCO export shed of the airport, operatives seized a consignment of 131 parcels of cannabis concealed in packages of black soap (Dudu-Osun), during outward clearance of cargo going to the UK.
“This is as another consignment presented for export to Dubai, UAE at SAHCO shed was also recovered after 30 parcels of cannabis hidden in cartons of cornflakes were discovered in it.
“Not less than 6.5kg of Heroin, Khat and Oxycodone packaged for export to USA, and Canada were seized at a major courier company in Lagos by operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, DOGI. The drugs were concealed in shoes and carton walls,” local media reports on Monday quoted Babafemi as saying in the statement.
In another development, the NDLEA said its operatives arrested one Nasiru Abdulrahman, aged 34, with 476kg of cannabis in Kano on February 25.
One Abdulmuminu Abubakar, aged 24, was also arrested at Gidan Madara, in Mubi North Local Government Area of Kano State with 4,000 tablets of tramadol weighing 225mg on February 22.
Babafemi said that Abubakar was arrested while travelling on a motorcycle to deliver the drugs in Bukula, in Cameroon Republic.
He said that the NDLEA Chairman, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retired), commended the operatives, and urged them to intensify efforts to ensure the eradication of drug cartels in Nigeria.
GIK/APA