NDLEA Busts Italy-bound Cocaine Courier, Seizes N5bn Drugs at Ports

– 4.8kg cocaine hidden in shoe soles, bag rails, 1.4 tonnes of Loud intercepted in Lagos,

– 16,440kg codeine seized at Onne, 20,234kg cannabis destroyed in Osun

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed a series of major drug trafficking operations across Nigeria, intercepting an Italy-bound businessman with 4.8 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in shoe soles and travelling-bag rails, while seizing illicit drugs worth more than N5 billion at the nation’s seaports.

The operations, which stretched from international entry points in Lagos and Rivers to drug-producing forests and distribution networks across several states, also resulted in the destruction of 20,234 kilogrammes of cannabis, the seizure of hundreds of thousands of opioid tablets and bottles of codeine syrup, and the arrest of a fugitive who had evaded trial for six years.

The scale of the seizures underscores the continuing efforts by drug trafficking networks to exploit Nigeria’s airports, seaports, highways and commercial transport systems to move illicit substances into and across the country.

At the centre of the airport operation, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, was 38-year-old Philip Tunde, who was arrested on September 27 at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly before he was due to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.

Babafemi said NDLEA operatives became suspicious and subjected his luggage and footwear to a thorough search, leading to the discovery of 16 parcels of cocaine hidden inside the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.

He noted that a further 195 wraps of the same substance were found concealed in the railings of four travelling bags, which made the combined weight of the cocaine was 4.8 kilogrammes.

According to Babafemi, the suspect allegedly told investigators during interrogation that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine hidden in the shoes, while the consignment concealed in the bags was intended for delivery to a partner in Italy.

He reportedly claimed that the money used to purchase the cocaine came from compensation he received after suffering an industrial injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.

But while the airport interception exposed one method used to move relatively smaller consignments through international passenger routes, NDLEA operations at the country’s ports uncovered substantially larger shipments concealed among legitimate commercial cargo.

At the Apapa Port in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, subjected two containers shipped from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination alongside Customs and other stakeholders.

He said the operation led to the discovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124 kilogrammes and valued at N372 million, noting that the consignment was concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.

Babafemi said at Onne Port in Rivers State, intelligence-led examination of two watch-listed containers yielded another major haul, stating that NDLEA operatives and other security agencies recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22 kilogrammes from one container.

The drugs were concealed in a travelling bag and inside three vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra — among five vehicles shipped in the container.

He said the second container contained a staggering 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440 kilogrammes.

According to the NDLEA, the container had originated from India and was subsequently shipped to Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was deleted in an apparent attempt to prevent it from attracting scrutiny.

The combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments recovered at Onne was put at N833.2 million.

The biggest single seizure was recorded at Tincan Island Port, Lagos, where NDLEA operatives on September 29 intercepted 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg.

Babafemi said the consignment, worth more than N3.8 billion, was concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, with 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags also found in the container shipped from Montreal, Canada.

Together, the major port seizures represent a significant blow to trafficking networks attempting to exploit Nigeria’s maritime corridors to move large commercial quantities of illicit drugs.

But the agency’s operations went beyond the ports, extending to cannabis farms, inland highways, residential hideouts and suspected distribution points.

In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area, on September 30.

The operation targeted one of the country’s illicit cannabis cultivation areas, cutting off a substantial quantity of the drug before it could enter the distribution chain.

In Plateau State, 41-year-old Agbo Dennis was arrested on September 29 in the West of Mines area of Jos North after NDLEA operatives recovered 33 bags of skunk weighing 385 kilogrammes.

In Lagos, a raid on an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, on September 28 resulted in the recovery of 209,000 tablets of tramadol.

The agency also intercepted a separate consignment containing 61 grammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grammes of methamphetamine concealed inside a bottle of an energy drink being transported as a waybill package through a commercial bus.

A follow-up operation at Ladipo Spare Parts Market on September 30 led to the arrest of 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo.

On the Okene-Lokoja highway, NDLEA officers intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commuter bus on September 30 and discovered two sachets containing methamphetamine weighing 1kg concealed in a waybill.

A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako, Abuja.

In Edo State, operatives raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, recovering 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

The same day, another suspect, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael, was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59 grammes of Loud, 12 grammes of Colorado, 19 grammes of tramadol, 16 grammes of methamphetamine, four grammes of Swinol and four grammes of Molly.

The agency’s latest operations also brought to an end a six-year manhunt for 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, who was arrested on September 29 after allegedly jumping bail in a drug trafficking case before the Federal High Court, Jos.

Kurra had been facing trial over the alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk when he reportedly jumped bail granted in December 2020 and remained at large for six years.

His arrest brings renewed attention to the challenge of suspects absconding while facing prosecution in major drug cases.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign, taking drug prevention messages to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.

Reacting to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun Commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.

Marwa charged personnel across the country to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.