*10.89kg cocaine at Lagos Airport
*Seize 2.3m Tramadol tabs in Kaduna State
By Ezechukwu Chidozie
Travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of N1,157, 670,469.92 have been intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Accordung to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, at the NDLEA, “at least, a suspect, Oguma Richard Uchenna, has been arrested in connection with the attempt to export the cheques, which were neatly concealed inside four bound hard cover books disguised as academic project literatures, to the United Kingdom”.
He stated that “the financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered on Wednesday 27th April at NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.
“A breakdown of the cheques shows they have monetary values of $287, 623.31; $1,456,300 and €1,297,800”.
He added that “operatives of NDLEA at the airport have foiled attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle into Nigeria 10.89 kilograms of cocaine through a Qatar Airways flight.
“The illicit drug was hidden in seven children duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil”.
Babafemi said that raid operations in Kaduna, Ondo and Akwa Ibom state have led to the seizure of about 2,000kg of Tramadol, Codeine, Cannabis and Heroin.
“In Ondo state, 401kg of cannabis was recovered and two suspects: Julius Dapo, 56 and Emeka Ikebuaku, 32, were arrested at Ipele forest in Owo area on Sunday 24th April.
“On same day, a transborder drug trafficker, Chigbo Chinonye, 42, was arrested with amphetamine weighing 2.5kg and heroin weighing 0.5kg during stop and search operation conducted along Oron- Ibaka road on his way to Cameroon.
“He concealed the drugs using false bottom packaging.
“In Kaduna, a total of 47 cartons of suspected fake Tramadol, comprising 2,350,000 tablets, weighing 1,222kg were seized in Zaria on Monday 25th April while a dealer, Chinedu Asogwa was arrested the following day 26th April along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 2,919 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, measuring 291.9litres and a gross weight of 396kg”.
He stated that Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the operatives at the MMIA, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna Commands for the seizures and arrests in the past week, charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.
