NDLEA intercepts multiple drug consignments en route US, UK

.Seizes ‘loud’ shipment, arrests 10

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and cloths going to the United States and United Kingdom (UK) respectively.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the consignments were seized by the NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), and a courier firm in Lagos.

He said that no less than 36 parcels of a strong strain of cannabis were concealed in six cartons of tins of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, with six containers in each package.

He also said that they were recovered at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed of Lagos airport, on Wednesday July 31.

He added that the psychotropic substance had a total weight of 18.50 kilograms.

“A freight agent, Suliat Salaudeen who presented the consignment for export to the UK was promptly arrested.

“A follow up operation to Ibadan, Oyo state on Saturday Aug. 3 led to the arrest of the sender of the cargo, Motunrayo Bello at her No. 20 Mofoluwasho Estate, Elewuro, Akobo area of the Oyo state capital.

“The Cerelac tins were all factory-sealed at the top while they tampered with the bottom through which they put the substances.

“They were covered with loose quantities of the infant cereal meal to prevent discovery, an effort that ended in futility as vigilant NDLEA officers were able to foil the attempt,”he said.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives have seized five different shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances meant for export to the U.S. and UK in Lagos.

Babafemi names such drugs as promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine concealed in cloths and other items.

“One of the shipments containing 820grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was going to the United States.

“The remaining four parcels consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, molly and NPS were heading to the United Kingdom.

“They were all intercepted on Monday July 29 at a logistics company in Lagos,”he said.

In another development, the NDLEA has recovered 77 packages of Canadian ‘Loud’, a synthetic strain of cannabis (Indian hemp), at Tincan Port in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that the drugs were hidden in the body compartments of four vehicles.

Babafemi said that the drugs, which were recovered on Friday Aug., 22 were located in Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Sienna respectively.

He said that the drugs were imported from Canada and were intercepted during a joint examination of some containers with men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other stakeholders.

“The seized consignments have a total weight of 38.5 kilograms while two suspects: Abiodun Salami, 34 and Lekan Atoyebi, 33, assigned to clear the shipments have been taken into custody.

“Another suspect, Isiagu Sunday was arrested in Mushin Ojuoye, Lagos on Thursday, Aug. 1 with 1,740 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 174 litres and 1,070 tablets of Molly weighing 600grams,”he said.

No less than 50 bags of cannabis with a gross weight of 520kg were recovered in the bush at Isuada, Owo council area of Ondo state.

Babafemi said that five suspects were also arrested at Itaogbolu forest, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the suspects nabbed in connection with the seizure of 42kg of same psychoactive substance include: Jimoh Omotosho, 63; Donald Obi, 62; Emmanuel Patrick, 21; Kayode Oluwaseun, 39; and John Nsikan, 34.

In Edo state, twenty-two and a half bags of cannabis weighing 220kg were recovered from Egbeta community, Ovia North East area of Edo state on Tuesday, July 30.

The NDLEA spokesman said that a suspect, Osayede Aghoma was arrested and another suspect, Ibrahim Abubakar, 55, was on Wednesday, July 31 nabbed with 40 blocks of same substance.

He said that the substance was weighing 19.200kg and was intercepted along Okene-Lokoja highway in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Kano.