The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking and related crimes, arresting several suspects and recovering illicit drugs, ammunition and locally fabricated firearms in multiple operations across the country.
The operations led to the interception of 25.05kg of methamphetamine concealed in breakfast cereal packs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the arrest of an American professional basketball player over a 33.95kg cannabis shipment and the discovery of an illegal firearms factory in Kaduna State.
NDLEA spokesperson, in a statement, said the 56-year-old suspect arrested over the methamphetamine consignment was identified as Omokan Isaac Babatope, whose real name is Chinedu Onwude.
He was arrested on November 11 at the arrival hall of Terminal II after returning from South Africa, where he had lived for more than 24 years.
A search of his two travelling boxes reportedly led to the discovery of 25 parcels of methamphetamine weighing 25.05kg, concealed in packs of assorted breakfast cereals and cereal-based food products.
The agency said the suspect confessed to using forged documents to enter South Africa and adopting the identity of Babatope.
The suspect also added that he was contracted by a South Africa-based man, Obiora Okoye, to deliver the drugs to Nigeria for R20,000.
In a separate operation at the airport on the same day, NDLEA operatives arrested a 28-year-old American, Greene Da’monte Khiree, who arrived in Lagos from Thailand through Dubai.
The suspect reportedly abandoned two checked-in bags bearing his name before attempting to leave the airport with his carry-on luggage.
A search of the bags revealed 32 parcels of Loud weighing 33.95kg, while a tracking device was also recovered.
The agency said a forensic examination of his mobile phone revealed information indicating his knowledge of and involvement in the trafficking operation.
In another operation in Lagos, operatives arrested a 33-year-old man, Taiwo Adebayo Aderoju, at Ebute Metta on November 10 with 119.71kg of cannabis.
Another raid in Ajah on November 14 led to the recovery of 78.8kg of cannabis, 2.5 litres of skuchies, 6.8 litres of codeine syrup, 23 grammes of Rohypnol, 478 grammes of tramadol, 10.6kg of nitrous oxide and 714 grammes of pregabalin from an abandoned Toyota Sienna.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives raided a firearms fabrication factory at Sabon Garin Kangin on November 9 and arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Sagiru Musa.
Items recovered included 17 locally made Dane guns, two pistols, 25 Dane gun pipes and materials used in manufacturing firearms.
The agency also arrested a woman, Tabara Dauda, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on November 13 with 196 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and N675,000.
Further operations in Kaduna led to the recovery of 3,840 tramadol tablets and 499.3kg of cannabis from different suspects.
The NDLEA also reported drug seizures and arrests in Ondo, Delta, Edo and Osun states, including the recovery of 560kg of cannabis in Ondo and 255.67kg in Delta.
In Edo, operatives arrested a 39-year-old woman, Blessing Chukwudi, at Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, with 14kg of Loud, 65 grammes of Colorado and 73 grammes of methamphetamine.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd.), said the interception of methamphetamine concealed in cereal packs demonstrated the agency’s vigilance against drug trafficking.
He also said the discovery of the illegal firearms factory in Kaduna underscored the link between illicit drugs and violent crime, urging officers to sustain efforts to reduce drug supply and demand.
