Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.
Ravenewsonline reports that this was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA.
Babafemi said two suspects linked to the attempted exports have been arrested and are currently in custody.
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He said one of the suspects, Boladale Riliwan, a cargo agent, was apprehended on Oct. 7 after presenting a carton containing 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs for airfreight to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon inspection, NDLEA officers discovered 15 parcels of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside the bulbs.
Another suspect, Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, was arrested on Oct. 12 at Terminal 2 of MMIA while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester. NDLEA operatives found 2,300 pills of Tramadol 225mg hidden inside frozen snails packed in her luggage.
Babafemi further revealed that on Oct. 16, NDLEA officers thwarted an attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of Bromazepam concealed in female clothing through a courier company in Lagos. The consignment was destined for the United States.
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In a separate operation in Adamawa State, a suspect identified as Bello Buba was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area. Buba was found with 38,270 pills of Tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of a Honda Civic vehicle. He reportedly drove from Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
Babafemi reiterated the agency’s commitment to intensifying its crackdown on drug trafficking and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
