The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted drug consignments worth more than N5 billion at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne ports, while arresting a businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to Italy.
The 38-year-old suspect, identified as Philip Tunde, was arrested on September 27 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan.
NDLEA operatives recovered 4.8kg of cocaine concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as in the railings of four travelling bags. The suspect reportedly told investigators that he paid N16 million for the cocaine hidden in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was intended for a business partner in Italy.
At Apapa Port, officers recovered 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg and valued at N372 million. At Tin Can Island, 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg were seized, with a street value of more than N3.8 billion.
At Onne Port in Rivers State, NDLEA officials also recovered 22kg of Loud and 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg. The combined value of the consignments recovered there was put at N833.2 million.
The agency said the seizures followed months of intelligence gathering and tracking of the shipments from their countries of origin.
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