The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested a man, Ahmed Olaseinde Ariyibi, and a woman, Silifat Tunrayo Akanbi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos for attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics.
The suspects, the NDLEA said, were travelling for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia before their interception on 19th and 20th April, at the screening point, Terminal 2, MMIA, during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos to Medina through Doha.
In a statement on Sunday, spokesman for the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi said that four sets of white lace fabrics with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 11.50 kilograms were discovered in Aribiyi’s carry-on luggage on.
He said the man, who claimed he was a widower and an advertising practitioner, said he planned to ingest the drugs but changed his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola.
Babafemi said that Ariyibi was to be paid N1.8 million upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
He said the female lesser hajj passenger was intercepted on 19th April by NDLEA officers at same Terminal 2, with 2.90 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ankara fabrics.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk clothes around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos.
“Based on information in her statement, a follow-up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday, 20th April, was carried out and the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adeola Wasiu Adebayo, was arrested at 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.
“In the same vein, NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to United Arab Emirates. While the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold colour wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a microcontroller.
“This is even as a 400-level Marine Engineering student at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Kelvin Ogenedoro, has been arrested for dealing in 600 grams of skunk.
“He was nabbed at the university’s gate in a follow-up operation following the interception of the consignment in a commercial bus along Tombia-Amassoma road.
“In Adamawa State, a notorious drug dealer, Sunday Ishaku Emzor (well known as Lalas), who was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2010 for drug offences, was on Thursday 20th April arrested for drug dealing.
“He was arrested at Hayin Gada, Imburu Numan LGA where he went to supply 1.650 kilograms cannabis to an undercover operative. His Yellow Press Cub motorcycle used for supplying illicit drugs and cash of N78,120 suspected to be proceeds of the illegal business were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
“On the same day in Kaduna, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a truck conveying 110 bags and 200 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 1.223 tons (1,223kg) in Zaria while the truck driver, Adekunle Olanrewaju, 32, and his assistant, Tunde Jamiu, 20, were arrested.
“In Edo State, a 42-year-old cripple, Lucky Aigberenmolen trading in illicit drugs on his wheelchair was arrested in a raid of drug joints in parts of the state. While Lucky was nabbed at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA with 1.3kg of Cannabis Sativa and 10 litres of Monkey Tail, another suspect, Mary David, 46, was arrested at Ugbegun, Esan Central LGA with four litres of Monkey Tail, and Osagiede Stephanie, 19, at Ekpoma, with various quantities of Colorado, Methamphetamine, and Molly. A 50kg of cannabis stored in a bush ready for distribution was also recovered in the Irrua area of the state.
“While two suspects: Adeshina Olalekan and Christopher Joel, were arrested at Lektop hotel, Igbeba, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, with 39 litres of Skuchies, as well as various quantities of tramadol, and rophynol, operatives in Imo State intercepted a female suspect, Ijeoma Anyiam Loreza, 40, at Orogwe, Owerri North with 70 blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 30 kilograms.
“A notorious drug dealer in Okitipupa area of Ondo state, Mathew Obateru, 42, has also been taken into custody after different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Colorado, and Loud were recovered from him. In Taraba State, a suspect, Mohammed Usman was arrested on Monday 17th April in connection with the seizure of 10,009 pills of tramadol”.
