A total of 442 parcels of Crystal Methamphetamine concealed in heads of smoked fish have been intercepted by the operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The items were packed in cartons for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, through the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, in a statement explained that on Friday, 5th August, 2022, 11.90kg consignment was brought to the SAHCO export shed of the airport by Adekunle Paul, 32, a freight agent from Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The statement added that Paul was apprehended after discovering that the seven cartons he presented for export contained parcels of the dangerous drug wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish.
According to the statement, the next day, Saturday 6th August, another consignment containing 1.45kg cannabis concealed inside granulated melon and crayfish and packed among other food condiments going to Dubai, UAE, was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives who arrested the freight agent, Ajisefini Lateef, that presented the cargo for export at the SAHCO shed.
He said that the 39-year-old agent is from Abeokuta West LGA, Ogun State.
It further explained that, “anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State, arrested 50-year-old Mgbeobuna Eberechukwu for ingesting 77 pellets of cocaine.”
It stated that on Saturday, 6th August, 2022, Eberechukwu was arrested after his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, onboard an Ethiopian airline flight, stressing that the suspect who hails from Idemili South LGA, Anambra State passed out the 77 wraps of the illicit drug in eight excretions spanning four days.
According to the statement, on Thursday, 11st August, 2022, three suspects, Saifullahi Sani, Salisu Nafi’u, and Abdulrazaq Mamman in Kaduna State, were apprehended in Zaria with 1,112,350 tablets of Tramadol (225mg and 100mg) weighing 38.3kg.
The statement said that a female drug dealer, Saratu Abdullahi, 28, from Kano State was arrested at Hotoro with 541 blocks of cannabis weighing 245kg.
The statement explained that the NDLEA operatives in Lagos at Ebute-Metta and Akala in Mushin areas of the State, recovered 1,773.25kgs of cannabis Sativa in separate raid operations between 9 and 10 August, 2022.
It explained that during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies 86 parcels of cannabis Indica (Colorado) weighing 43kgs were recovered from a 40ft container at the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
It said on Friday, 12th August, 2022, the operatives seized an illegal consignment that came from Toronto via Montreal, Canada and was concealed in two drums inside a Mercedes Benz SUV in a container that was discovered.
According to the statement, on Friday, 12th August, 2022, Nnanna Ijo, 58, and Orji Uguru, 29, were apprehended in Abia State with various quantities of cannabis, heroin and cocaine at Nde-Agbai, Abiriba, a week after Nnanna was released from detention over a similar offence committed in June this year.
