Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully intercepted a major drug trafficking attempt involving an international syndicate operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
The operation led to the recovery of 845 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 18.72 kilograms, at the Lagos International Airport.
The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at approximately N4,492,800,000.
In a statement issued by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the cocaine was discovered in two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines flight (ET900) arriving from Addis Ababa on October 29, 2024.
The drugs were concealed in nine polythene bags placed within the aircraft’s waste collectors, prompting the NDLEA’s MMIA Strategic Command to investigate after being alerted to unusual objects during post-landing cleaning.
So far, around 30 suspects have been interrogated in connection with the seizure. Investigations revealed that the drugs were ingested by couriers in Brazil, transported to Ethiopia, and later attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria, with significant cooperation from airline authorities and other airport stakeholders contributing to the thwarted effort.
In parallel operations, the NDLEA also prevented attempts to export 2.928 kilograms of cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol concealed in body cream containers and artworks destined for Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom on October 28.
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At the Apapa seaport on October 29, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with customs officers, intercepted 754,000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen worth N525,000,000.
Further arrests were made in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where Mujahid Hamisu was caught with 147,000 pills of tramadol on November 2, and Seun Abimbola was arrested with 512 grams of methamphetamine in a raid operation.
In Kogi State, Mercy Ameh was apprehended with fake Naira notes worth N4,353,200, while Shaibu Dahiru was found with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.4 kilograms.
Notorious drug dealer Usman Abba, known as “Timaya,” was arrested in Katsina with cannabis, and other significant seizures of cannabis were reported across several states, including Taraba and Ondo.
Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the agency’s personnel for their diligent efforts in combating drug trafficking and enhancing community awareness through educational programs.
The agency continues to intensify its operations to curb the drug menace in Nigeria.
