National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) dragnet has caught some big fish in the illicit drug business world as a large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2,185,000,000.00 in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
The operatives of the NDLEA at the Lagos airport, with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs, and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives as the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria.
During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of N6 million.
Similarly, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives on Monday, 27th May, intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India en route C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.
During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina, and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have in no small measure reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigerian communities. He charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.
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