Inside shoes, wigs…major drug-related interceptions by NDLEA in 2024
Image Source: NDLEA
The NDLEA intercepted cocaine and opioids hidden in shoe soles destined for export. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s media director, reported seizures including tramadol, pentazocine, morphine sulphate, and ketamine in Lagos.
Additionally, 250 grams of cocaine bound for Cyprus and over five kilograms of opioids en route to the US and UK were found concealed in clothing and household items in Lagos.
In a separate raid, on the 8th of July, 440 grams of synthetic cannabis from Canada and various nitrous oxide items were seized in Lekki’s VGC, leading to the arrest of Suliyat Abdulsalam.
Here’s a detailed look at major drug-related interceptions by NDLEA in 2024
January
Early in the year, NDLEA seized a massive 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent type of cannabis, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana. This operation also led to the arrest of a driver connected to a wanted drug dealer.
Additionally, large quantities of cocaine and Colorado were discovered hidden in containers of household items imported from Durban, South Africa, and Canada at the Tin Can seaport in Lagos.
February
In a series of raids across Ondo, Edo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NDLEA officers recovered 227 kilograms of hemp from a camp in Ondo State and intercepted nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine hidden in a traditional African salad (Abacha) being transported from Onitsha to Lagos.
The agency achieved a major breakthrough in February with the interception of 51.90 kilograms of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The heroin was cleverly concealed within metal cutting machines, marking one of the largest seizures in NDLEA’s history. Further investigations led to the discovery of an additional 2.2 kilograms of heroin at a warehouse in Lagos.
March
On March 2nd, 2024, NDLEA operatives at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport intercepted Ejike Chibuke Solomon, 40, with 1.45 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage. Solomon, apprehended while boarding an Ethiopia Airlines flight to Vietnam via Addis Ababa, claimed he was on a business trip. He remains detained as investigations proceed.
NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Department of State Security, detained Chidinma Chinenye Agbazue, 35, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on March 28th. She was caught trying to smuggle 10.70 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden in parcels of African salad (Abacha) and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar, via Qatar Airways.
April
On Friday 19th, April two of the wanted kingpins, Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu who were linked to it’s single largest seizures that took place in February, in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively.
May
NDLEA operatives intercepted three trailer loads of opioids, totaling 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, at Abule Ado in Lagos. The multi-billion naira consignments were discovered loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and one 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal, Abule-Osun, near the International Trade Fair complex. Subsequently, NDLEA officers arrested three suspects at a large warehouse in Abule-Ado on May 9th, 2024, where the opioid shipments were destined.
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June
NDLEA operatives intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, totaling 1,050,000 bottles valued at over N7.35 billion, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex on June 29th, 2024. This seizure, from six containers, marks the third such interception in four weeks, enabled by credible intelligence and meticulous tracking by NDLEA’s special operations unit in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and Customs Service, ensuring thorough examination of targeted shipments.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives intercepted another shipment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup from India at the Port Harcourt Ports complex on June 7th, 2024, just a week after a similar seizure at the same location. The interception, involving 875 cartons weighing 26,250kg, followed prior intelligence prompting a thorough 100 percent examination by NDLEA, Customs Service, and other security agencies. Concurrently, NDLEA officers also seized various illicit drugs hidden in parcels of ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair bound for the US and UK at a courier firm in Lagos on June 5th.