Defence
OPERAIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted 22 blocks of heroin weighing 23.55kilogrammes concealed in packs of baby food at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The consignment with a street value of over N4.5billion came from Johannesburg, South Africa on board a South African Airways flight on Wednesday, June 29, as part of a consolidated cargo that arrived at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) import shed of the Lagos airport.
Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, spokesperson for the Agency, Femi Babafemi, said after series of follow up operations that led to the arrest of two freight agents, the actual receiver of the drug consignment, Chike Okeke Eweni, who distributes the substance for his South Africa based partner was arrested the following day, Thursday, June 30, at a logistics warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
Chike, he said, claimed during a preliminary interview that he’s also into fish farming.
According to Babafemi, before Chike’s arrest NDLEA officers at the airport had on Monday, June 27, arrested a former driver with a public transport company, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Muyiwa Babalola Bolujoko for ingesting 90 pellets of cocaine.
He was arrested at the screening point before boarding a Qatar Airways flight enroute Doha to Sharjah, with his trip expected to terminate in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE).
The 39-year-old was placed under excretion observation after a body scan result confirmed drug ingestion.
While in custody, the suspect excreted all the 90 pellets in four excretions.
He claimed he left his N60, 000 per month job as BRT driver in February and decided to work as drug courier to raise funds to buy a shuttle bus popularly called ‘Korope’ in Lagos to continue his transport business.
Eze
ALSO, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, June 30, intercepted an inbound consignment of khat leaves, which arrived at Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) import shed of the Lagos airport on Royal Air Maroc flight from the Middle East.
A total of 71 cartons of dried khat leaves with a gross weight of 2,434.3 kg were discovered in the cargo.
IN the same vein, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency last Thursday seized 36 parcels of colorado, a variant of cannabis with a total weight of 19.30kg which arrived at NAHCO import shed from Los Angeles, U.S. on a Delta Airlines flight.
After series of follow up operations in which four persons were arrested, the actual owner of the drug consignment, Abibu Afis Sola was eventually nabbed on Friday, July 1, in Gbagada area of Lagos.
IN Rivers State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, June 29, arrested a 68-year-old woman, Mrs. Celina Ekeke, at Obunku community, Oyigbo Local Council with 231.2kg cannabis, while one Shedrack Eze, was arrested the following day Thursday, June 30, at Yankarfe, Zaria, Kaduna State with 250,000 tablets of Exol 5, weighing 75kg.
In Borno State, Usman Haruna, 27, was arrested at BCG checkpoint in Biu on Saturday, July 2, with 19.7kg cannabis.
MEANWHILE, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) has expressed satisfaction with the exemplary performance of the officers and men of the MMIA command in the past week while also commending those of Rivers, Kaduna and Borno for being vigilant.
He urged them and others across the country to remain steps ahead of the tricks by the desperate drug cartels.
-The Guardian
KN
Tags: Chike Okeke Eweni Femi Babafemi Muyiwa Babalola Bolujoko NDLEA SAHCO
