The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted Colorado concealed in vehicles imported from Montreal, Canada, and packs of cannabis juice flown in from South Africa, meant for distribution ahead of the Christmas celebration, at the Tincan seaport, Apapa, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

No fewer than 12 suspects including two dock workers and a wine shop businessman have so far been arrested in connection with the two seizures as well as the recovery of 152 kilograms of skunk from two dealers in Kano.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this via a statement issued on Sunday.

Babafemi stated that at the Lagos airport, the search of consolidated cargo from South Africa led to the discovery of smuggled bottled Cannabis juice with a gross weight of 16.50kgs on Wednesday, December 21.

He noted that investigations by anti-narcotics officers subsequently led to the arrest of four freight agents, Soremekun Olalekan Wasiu, Olufisayo Dayo, Moruf Olusegun Bashir, and Imole Moses Ajayi, whose statements eventually led to the arrest of the consignee, a wine shop business owner, Emebede Chuka, the following day Thursday, December 22, 2022.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that a consignment of 185 parcels of cannabis Indica, popularly called Colorado weighing 61.3kgs were seized during a joint examination of a container at the Tincan seaport, Lagos.

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According to him, the container marked MSCU5206726 from Montreal, Canada was declared as containing three units of used vehicles but upon a 100% examination, adding that it was found to contain two vehicles; a 2009 Toyota Corolla car, and a 2009 Ford Econoline bus as well as used car engines, bicycles, shoes and other items including the drugs.

Babafemi said two dock workers, Abdulquadri Abdulazeez and Ogbuji Kenneth, were already in NDLEA custody in connection with the seizure following their initial arrest by the Port security operatives and the police.

He noted that an attempt to export quantities of cannabis and ecstasy pills also known as MDMA concealed in beverage drink, Bournvita, containers to Dubai, UAE, through the NAHCO export shed on Friday was fooiled while a vulcaniser given the assignment for a fee of N4,000, Iyanda Ogunleye Yaya has been arrested.

The NDLEA spokesman said two suspects, Nura Zakariya’u and Alkasim Abubakar, were arrested along Zaria-Kano Road, Kwanar Dangora, Kano State with 161 blocks of cannabis weighing 152kgs and various quantities of Exol and Codeine based syrup, adding that 100,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from a suspect, Amaechi Johnson in Imo State on his way to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Babafemi stated that a total of 708 kilograms of cannabis were recovered by operatives from a bus at Ehinogbe, Owo area of Ondo State on Tuesday, December 20.

In his reaction to the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers of the anti-drug agency for their vigilance, professionalism, and robust working relationship with other security agencies in their areas of responsibility, urging them and their compatriots across the country to ensure no gram of illicit substance escapes their checks into the streets during the festive season and beyond.

He wished them and their families a Merry Christmas celebration and a prosperous new year in advance.

The Star