The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted parcels of cocaine concealed in travel bags brought into Nigeria by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Uchemadu, who returned from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, was arrested on Monday at the Lagos airport during inward clearance of passengers on the Qatar airways flight following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kilograms factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday.

Babafemi stated that the NDLEA operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food, and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kilograms of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE, at the Lagos airport.

He noted that a freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril, who presented the consignment for export was subsequently arrested.

The NDLEA spokesperson said parcels of cannabis weighing 6.30kgs concealed in sound systems going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport were also seized on Thursday by the operatives of the anti-drug agency, who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later arrested another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew, in a follow-up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos State on Friday.

Babafemi stated that no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday at Akala in the Mushin area of Lagos.

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According to him, another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on Saturday led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.

He noted that the officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the NDLEA arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane, on Monday with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute -Ero Jetty in Lagos.

Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), urged the officers of the agency and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts.

The Star