International Drug Trafficking Network Smashed as NDLEA Arrests Suspects

In a major operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested several suspects involved in a vast drug trafficking network that spanned across countries. The arrests were made in Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville, with the traffickers attempting to export large quantities of opioids and cocaine to the United Kingdom and Vietnam, respectively.

The NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, had intercepted a cargo going to the UK on September 6, 2024. A thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of Rohypnol hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.

The investigation led to the arrest of a freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, and his mother, Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, who is a businesswoman in Ibadan. The agent confessed to working for the businesswoman to export cargoes to the UK, while the businesswoman was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives at the same export shed intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and Checker powder custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines. A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of Checker powder custard packed together with some auto parts.

Two brothers, Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, were also arrested for sponsoring drug traffickers who specialized in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam. The brothers were linked to another Vietnam-bound businessman, Paul Mbadugha, who was arrested after testing positive for ingestion of cocaine.

In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects, Auwal Abdullahi, Isah Rabiu, and Abubakar Da’u, along with a truck carrying 2,490,000 pills of Tramadol concealed with bags of salt. In Kaduna State, a suspect, Idris Adamu, was arrested with 41.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa, while in Ekiti State, two suspects were nabbed with a total of 73.6kg cannabis.

In Bauchi State, no fewer than 208,920 pills of Tramadol and Diazepam were seized from a suspect, Chinedu Asadu, while 104kg of cannabis was recovered from two suspects along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The agency also discovered 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in two containers shipped from India during a joint examination of the containers with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan port in Lagos.

The NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks, and these arrests demonstrate its ability to successfully target and apprehend criminals involved in the illegal trade.