NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin

NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Oguejiofor Simonpeter, a Thailand returnee, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on October 7, 2024, for attempting to smuggle 13.30 kg of heroin worth over N3.192bn.

The drug was concealed in six backpacks and packed into two suitcases. The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest.

After arriving in Lagos on October 5, he asked the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria, where he could pick them up as rush bags to avoid security inspections.

However, NDLEA officials arrested him at the point of exit.

“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all six backpacks. The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30 kg,” the statement read.

According to Babafemi, Oguejiofor revealed that he was given $7,000 to sell the drugs in Nigeria and Ghana.

He said, “In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.”

NDLEA operatives intercepted opioids worth N22.77 billion at three seaports, including Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa Seaport in Lagos, and Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.

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The seizures included 32,607,900 tramadol pills worth over N12,577,000,000 and 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of N10.163,958,000.

“The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22,740,958,000. The illicit consignments were seized from containers watched and listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between October 7 and 11, 2024,” the statement added.

According to Babafemi, operatives in Anambra detained a 29-year-old man, Okelue Chiders, with 50,000 tramadol tablets, and a 38-year-old guy, Monday Akel,e, in Edo State with 70 bags of the psychoactive narcotic weighing 1,050 kg.

He said, “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, October 12th, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets of tramadol 200 mg at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.

“Also, in Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West LGA, where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050 kg were recovered, while a suspect, Monday Akele, 38, was arrested on Friday, October 11th, in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East LGA, where 110 kg of the same substance was seized.”

 

NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin