Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested an Ibadan, Oyo state-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville respectively.
It was learnt that NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Friday 6th September 2024 intercepted a cargo going to the United Kingdom, on a thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of Rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.
Disclosing this on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA explained in a statement that the freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested.
Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who claimed that his mother, a 58-year-old, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.
A follow-up operation on Saturday 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.
In his statement, the agent Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the same export shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 11th September intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and Checkers Powder Custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines.
A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of Checkers Powder Custard packed together with some auto parts.
A follow up operation led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.
These include WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Secondary School, Galamawa and Government Junior Secondary School, Kaci, Dutse, Jigawa state; students of Kukudus Islamic School, Minna,Niger state; nurses and midwives at UBTH School of Nursing, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo state; members of Vulcanisers Association of Nigeria in Ibarapa central LGA, Oyo state; Muslim faithful at Central Mosque, Demsa, Adamawa state, and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Rano, Kano state, Alhaji Muhammad Isah Umaru, among others.
While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Tincan, Lagos, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Ekiti Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated.
He urged them to continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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