Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have begun to unmask members of an organized criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
A dock worker identified as Falowo Samuel Kayode; Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Ahmed Iguda who is in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port, are among syndicates arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for trafficking of drugs.
Currently at large is another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) who is equally linked to the syndicate.
Based on credible intelligence, the Agency had requested a 100 percent joint examination of two containers marked: MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa.
As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on the 18th and 19th of January, 2024 during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.
Following a tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) to a combined team of specialized units of the agency to unravel those behind the importation of the large consignments of the illicit drugs, ongoing investigations have led to the discovery of more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7kg, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition removed from the container, MSCU 4581770 and hidden in an empty container before the 100 percent joint examination at the Five Star terminal.
As a result, two suspects: Uzairu Ahmed Iguda who is in charge of the terminal’s container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu who is a dock worker in the terminal have been arrested.
Investigations revealed that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notified party, Falowo Samuel Kayode to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.
The latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg.
Investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers.
They include Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel who are now on the Agency’s wanted list.
While commending the officers and men of the Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Kebbi, Borno, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
