Intercepts Australia-bound cocaine in face cream bottles in Lagos; N1.1b worth of codeine shipment in Rivers
A 40ft container trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.
The contraband were being re-loaded for onward distribution to some parts of Northern Nigeria, according to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, an intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20 am on Saturday 11th January, 2025, led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles.
The seizures included: a Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car, as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.
The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan Local Government Area of Edo State.
In another raid at the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi (42) and Abba Ali (27), were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine weighing 1.398kg were recovered from them.
No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330 grams have also been recovered from a cargo bound for Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by NDLEA operatives.
“The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.
“A total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1,190,168,200.00 in street value, was intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the agency following processed intelligence.
“The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January, 2025, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state,” he said.
In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah, Lekki, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.
2,760 kg of skunk was recovered from him on 25th October 2024,
Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.
A suspect, Habibu Ya’u (23), was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road, Kano on Thursday 9th January.
The operatives recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos state; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno state; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi state, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others.
.
