The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, and three Nigerian accomplices — Ogunlana Noah Olanrewaju, Olushola Idrees Kayode, and Bakare Korede Muheeb over the interception of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the shipment valued at N3.99 billion arrived from Delhi, India, on an Ethiopian Airline flight on September 8, disguised as multi-vitamins in 114 cartons. After surveillance, NDLEA operatives arrested a clearing agent and two drivers attempting to move the consignment out of the airport on September 11, while Kumar was apprehended the following day as he tried to take delivery of the illicit cargo.
Babafemi further disclosed that NDLEA officers at MMIA also intercepted Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi, a passenger travelling to Doha with 900 grams of cannabis (skunk) concealed in crayfish. His confession led to the arrest of his accomplice, Ohadiegwu Anthony Uchenna, and the recovery of additional substances from his hotel room.
Similarly, at the Tincan Port, Lagos, a joint examination uncovered 161 parcels of Canadian Loud (81.7kg) and 1.2kg of hashish oil in a 40ft container of spare parts and vehicles imported from Canada. Two suspects were arrested, while another consignment of 65kg of Loud was later intercepted on the Third Mainland Bridge, leading to the arrest of a driver conveying the illicit substance.
NDLEA also foiled attempts to export methamphetamine concealed in a picture frame and cannabis hidden in video decoders through courier companies in Lagos. In Ikorodu, Lagos, operatives raided a skuchies factory, recovering 6,029 bottles of the illicit drink and 4,232kg of cannabis, while arresting the factory manager and other suspects.
Nationwide operations during the week also led to the arrest of a couple in Anambra with 13.9kg methamphetamine and 5.3kg skunk, seizures of tramadol and other substances in Kano, arrests in Oyo, destruction of nearly 17,000kg of cannabis in Edo, and interdictions in Yobe and Ogun States.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers across the commands for their dedication and urged them to sustain the Agency’s balanced strategy of enforcement and advocacy under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
