By Benson Daniel
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 48 year old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.55 kilogrammes of cocaine to New Delhi, India.
The suspect, who deals in marble in Lagos, was arrested at Terminal II of the airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi. The cocaine was discovered concealed inside the side walls and railings of his check in luggage.
During interrogation, the businessman reportedly told investigators that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the cocaine. He allegedly expected to sell the consignment in India for up to N100 million.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue and is expected to face prosecution over the alleged drug trafficking offence.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered a large consignment of codeine based cough syrup from a warehouse located within a residential compound in the Ago Palace area of Okota.
The agency said the operation, conducted between August 7 and 8, led to the recovery of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance. The consignment was valued at more than N2.6 billion.
The development represents another major seizure in the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the distribution of controlled pharmaceutical substances and other illicit drugs across the country.
In another Lagos operation, operatives raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, in the Ipaja area and recovered 324 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million.
Two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also recovered during the operation.
Combined, the codeine and Colorado seizures were valued at more than N3.57 billion, bringing the value of the major Lagos drug recoveries close to N3.6 billion.
The agency also reported a series of arrests and seizures in other parts of the country as part of its intelligence led operations against drug trafficking and distribution.
In Kwara State, operatives arrested two suspects with 55.96 kilogrammes of cannabis, while two other suspects were arrested along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway with 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol.
In Delta State, two suspects were arrested along the Onitsha Asaba Expressway with more than 124,000 tramadol pills, codeine syrup and other controlled substances.
Plateau State operatives also intercepted a vehicle along the Riyom Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol.
In Kano State, six suspects were arrested along the Zaria Kano Road with hundreds of thousands of opioid pills, cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine syrup and synthetic cannabis.
The agency also reported the destruction of more than 4,600 kilogrammes of cannabis from two farms in Edo State, while another suspect was arrested with synthetic cannabis and methamphetamine in Benin City.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and urged personnel across the country to maintain pressure on drug trafficking networks.
The latest seizures highlight the scale of the challenge confronting law enforcement agencies as traffickers continue to explore airports, roads, warehouses and other channels to move illicit substances.
The agency has continued to combine intelligence gathering, targeted raids, airport screening and highway patrols in its efforts to reduce the supply of narcotics and controlled substances.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the latest cases, while suspects will face the legal process in accordance with existing drug control laws.
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