NDLEA uncovers 442 parcels of crystal meth in heads of smoked fish
By Stephen Gbadamosi
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have uncovered no fewer than 442 parcels of Crystal Methamphetamine concealed in heads of fishes packed in cartons for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The 11.90 kilogrammes consignment was said to have been brought to the SAHCO export shed of the airport on Friday, 5th August, by a freight be agent, Adekunle Oluwapelumi Paul, 32, from Yagba West Local Government
Area, Kogi State, who was promptly arrested upon the discovery that the seven cartons he presented for export contained parcels of the dangerous drug wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish.
According to a statement by the NDLEA at the weekend, the following day, Saturday 6th August, another consignment containing 1.45 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed inside granulated melon and crayfish and packed among other food condiments going to Dubai, UAE, was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives who arrested the freight agent, Ajisefini Lateef, who presented the cargo for export at the SAHCO shed.
The 39-year-old agent is from Abeokuta West Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu have arrested a 50-year-old Mgbeobuna Victor Eberechukwu for ingesting 77 pellets of cocaine.
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He was arrested on Saturday, 6th August, following his arrival from my Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, onboard an Ethiopian Airline flight.
The suspect, who hails from Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, passed out the 77 wraps of the illicit drug in eight of excretions spanning four days.
Also, in Kaduna, three suspects, Saifullahi Sani, Salisu Nafi’u and Abdulrazaq Mamman, were arrested in Zaria on Thursday, 11th August, with 1,112,350 tablets of Tramadol (225 milligrammes and 100 milligrammes) weighing 38.3 kilogrammes, while in Kano, a female drug dealer, Saratu Abdullahi, 28, from Wurno council area of the state was nabbed at Hotoro with 541 blocks of cannabis weighing 245 kilogrammes.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 1,773.25 kilogrammes cannabis sativa at Ebutte-Meta and Akala in Mushin areas of the state in separate raid operations between 9th and 10th August.
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, 86 parcels of cannabis indica (Colorado) weighing 43 kilogrammes were recovered from a 40-feet container during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies. The illegal consignment seized on Friday, 12th August, came from Toronto via Montreal, Canada and concealed in two drums inside a Mercedes Benz SUV in the container.
In Abia, two suspects, Nnanna Ijo, 58, and Orji Uguru, 29, were arrested on Friday, 12th August, with various quantities of cannabis, heroin and cocaine at Nde-Agbai, Abiriba, a week after Nnanna was released from detention over a similar offence committed in June.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Tincan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Abia commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), charged them and their compatriots across the countryto always remain steps ahead of the drug cartels.
