The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted shipments of cocaine hidden in female lipsticks and a property title document, which were on their way to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, personnel of the agency discovered the illegal substances during a routine inspection at a logistics company in Lagos.
The statement revealed that 420 grams of cocaine were hidden in 84 units of factory-fitted female lipsticks heading to the UK, while another 280 grams were found inside a Certificate of Occupancy destined for Saudi Arabia.
“A total of 420grams of cocaine factory fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized, while 280 grams of the same Class A drug were uncovered in a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy) being sent to Saudi Arabia,” the statement partly read.
In a separate case, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspected drug trafficker identified as Ajetsibo Emami, also known as ‘Warri Kinsman,’ in Ikeja on Saturday, June 28, following a coordinated three-day operation. The raid led to the confiscation of 681 pouches of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms from 24 large bags and the arrest of three others.
In another investigation, a Lagos-based family was apprehended for operating an alleged drug distribution network. The suspects included a businessman, Ajah Johnson, his wife Rosemary, their daughters Stella and Ngozi, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah.
“A businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, along with their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, have been taken into custody after an investigation revealed they run a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos. The couple was first arrested on Friday, June 13, by operatives of the Department of State Security in the Ojo area of the state and transferred to the NDLEA along with 277.5kg skunk.
“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house. This led to a raid on their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, July 1. Three persons arrested during the raid include their two daughters, Ngozi Uchenna and Blessing Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, who was running the family business in the absence of the couple.”
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, another suspect, Aburemi Hysent, was arrested on July 2 for attempting to smuggle 7,660 tramadol pills hidden inside food packages en route to Italy.
“The NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 2, intercepted a frequent flyer, Aburemi Hysent, who specialises in conveying goods for customers from Nigeria to Italy and vice versa. He was found to have hidden 7,660 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg inside food items packed among other goods he was conveying to Italy. He claimed he was to be paid the sum of 800 euros upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Italy.”
Further enforcement at the airport on July 4 resulted in the discovery of 52 counterfeit travellers’ cheques, amounting to 17.7 million Australian dollars, concealed within children’s books. The cheques, en route to Malaysia via Istanbul, were traced to a freight agent identified as Bolarinwa Saheed, who has since been transferred to the EFCC.
“In another interdiction operation at the Lagos airport, a total of 52 pieces of the travellers’ cheques concealed in children books, worth 17,700,000 Australian dollars, going to Malaysia through Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight were on Friday, July 4, intercepted by the NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the airport while a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, has been arrested. The travellers’ cheques suspected to be counterfeit and the suspect will be transferred to the EFCC for further investigation.”
On July 5, NDLEA agents recovered 359kg of skunk hidden in the Baba-Pupa area near the Seme border.
That same day, officers intercepted 10,000 tramadol tablets and over 1kg of Colorado cannabis along the Okene-Lokoja expressway, leading to further arrests in Abuja’s Jabi Park.
In Osun State, the agency conducted raids from July 1 to 3 in Osogbo and Ile-Ife, seizing over 62,000 pills and ampoules of opioid drugs.
“A cannabis farm covering 9.67 hectares was also destroyed at Ikaka forest, Oke-Ila, with seven suspects arrested and over 24,000kg of skunk destroyed,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Borno State, 167kg of skunk was recovered in Gamboru-Ngala. Along the Zaria-Kano highway, officers seized 452kg of illicit substances and arrested two suspects.
In Kaduna, a 30-year-old was found with 11,000 tramadol pills, while in Sokoto, a 62-year-old suspect was caught with 4,800 tramadol tablets.
Kebbi command raided Bakin Kasuwa in Yauri, where 312kg of skunk and 10,000 diazepam pills were confiscated. In Taraba, two suspects were caught with nearly 50,000 tramadol capsules.
In Edo State, a wanted individual, Alaba Monday, was apprehended with 115kg of skunk in Ewere forest. Three other people were arrested on a 2-hectare cannabis farm.
“In Cross River, a 78-year-old man and others were arrested in Obubra LGA with various quantities of skunk and tramadol,” he added
