NDLEA intercepts narcotic hidden in black soap, fake security agents

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says its operatives have intercepted 5kg of narcotics neatly hidden in black soap packs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The agency said it had thus foiled the efforts by a drug cartel to export cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis to London through the airport.

A statement by Director, Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said narcotic officers of the agency during outward routine clearance of cargo at NAHCO export shed of the airport intercepted the drugs.

Specifically, he the drugs were 20 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.2kg; 23 parcels of heroin weighing 1.4kg and 39 parcels of 2.35kg methamphetamine all concealed in black soap packets.

“Few days earlier, October 21, a similar cargo had been intercepted at the NAHCO shed of the MMIA, where 7.35kgs of Cannabis concealed inside some tablets of Dudu Osun black soap were recovered. No fewer than three suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the seizures.

Also,  barely a week after she was arrested and granted bail for attempting to smuggle drugs concealed in cassava flour meal called ‘akpu’ into NDLEA cell for a suspect in custody, a nursing mother who claims to be a part-time 400-level student of International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Benin, Mariam Adetilewa Dirisu has again been arrested for trafficking in 5kg skunk and 8.1g of Molly.

The 35-year-old mother of a 2 month-old-baby was first arrested on 21st October by the Edo state Command of the Agency.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), had on the same day directed that she be counselled and released immediately because of the young baby she was carrying.

Curiously, a controlled delivery operation carried out by operatives of the Delta state Command of the Agency on Saturday 30th October again led to the arrest of Mariam who had ordered for the drugs from Lagos even while still on bail for an earlier offence.

In Ondo State, no less than 1,645kilograms of cannabis were seized in three interdiction operations in parts of the state.

Operatives had on 28th October stormed Emure cannabis farm camp where 313kilograms of cannabis were seized and seven suspects: Paul Godwin; Michael Nnaji; Ezugu Lucky; Omolu Sunday; Simon Taiwo; David Udofia; and M. Suleiman arrested.

Operatives had the previous day raided the Ipele-Idoani forest where 534kgs of abandoned compressed cannabis were recovered just as a total of 798kilograms of cannabis were seized from two suspects; Gbenga Falodun and Faseyitan Opeyemi at Ikare junction, Owo area of the state.

They also recovered a white Mercedes Benz truck marked Lagos LSR 06 XW and monetary exhibit of N20, 000.

Babafemi added that, “At least, two suspected fake security agents; Umar Ibrahim and Sadiq Abubakar as well as their accomplice, Auwal Hassan have been arrested in Kogi state while conveying a total of 105.4kilograms of cannabis from Ondo state to Kaduna on Saturday 30th October in a Mercedes Benz C 180 car with registration number Abuja BWR 924 KH.

“Raids at three black spots in Oshodi, Ikeja and Ogba areas of Lagos State on 23rd October have led to the arrest of a 15-year-old female SS II student of Idi – Araba Senior High School, Walaka Adams, who was arrested at No. 72 Mafoluku Road, Oshodi, with 100 grams of cannabis sativa; Sodiq Ganun, a 24-year-old wielder with 200grams of cannabis at the same address and Tajudeen Azeez, arrested at Ipodo, Ikeja, with nine grams of Cocaine.

“At a drug joint in Ogba area of Ikeja, different quantities of abandoned drugs such as Molly, Rohypnol and Codeine based syrup were recovered.”