Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a large consignment of loud, synthetic, strong strains of cannabis concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America.
In a press statement by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the agency stated that, when the giant wooden boxes, dressed as sound speakers, were seized by its officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport were opened, the boxes were discovered to have been stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, known as ‘loud’, weighing 33.5Kg.
NDLEA said that at least three suspects: a freight agent, Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager, Babalola Gboyega; and the receiver of the consignment, Taiwo Anuoluwapo, have been arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday 15th, and Friday 16th February.
The statement read: “While Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, and Taiwo traced to his residence at 13 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, where he was picked on Friday.
“In Abia, a joint raid operation between the NDLEA and men of the State Homeland Security at 23, Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, around 11pm on Wednesday, February 14, led to the arrest of a female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, 36; her boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola, 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, 65; Dike Okpara, 43, who is an herbalist to the family; Chukwudi Abel, 33, member of the family; Amarachi Paul, 18, another member of the family; and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.
“Investigations reveal that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their now late father, Jonathan Nweke. Recovered from them as of the time of their arrest include various quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Loud, cannabis sativa, and precursor chemicals with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.”
The agency added that an attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry, to deliver a consignment of 26.2 grammes of Loud picked up in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Monday, 12th February was thwarted by its operatives, who intercepted him.
