NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Businessman With Cocaine, Seizes N3.6bn Worth of Drugs in Lagos

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.55kg of cocaine to India, while operatives across several states recovered illicit drugs worth more than N3.6 billion in a week-long operation.The suspect, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, who deals in marble in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

According to a statement signed by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, a search of Nwankwo’s check-in bag revealed 1.55kg of cocaine concealed inside the factory-fitted side walls and railings of the luggage.The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the cocaine, which he expected to sell for as much as N100 million in India.

He remains in NDLEA custody and is expected to face prosecution.

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

The seizure, made between August 7 and 8, was valued at more than N2.6 billion, according to the agency.

The agency also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, during a raid on his residence at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.Operatives recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million. Two vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla—were also recovered from the suspect.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on August 13. They were allegedly found with 55.96kg of skunk concealed in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Meanwhile, a 70-year-old man, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, and another suspect, Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 12. The suspects were intercepted in a Toyota Sienna marked FFA-115KA, from which NDLEA officers recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

In Delta State, operatives intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on August 13, recovering 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on August 12 with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash. In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla marked MKD 341 EA along the Riyom-Jos Road, recovering 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Six suspects were also arrested during a patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State on August 10. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39. The NDLEA said operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, as well as 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

In another operation in Kano, NDLEA officers raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg. Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested.

In Edo State, the agency said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested on one of the farms during the operation on August 12.

Also in Edo, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on August 14. Operatives recovered 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine from him.

The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns also continued across the country during the week, including lectures delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa also praised personnel across the agency’s commands for maintaining what he described as a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.

The latest seizures come amid intensified NDLEA operations targeting the trafficking, distribution and cultivation of illicit drugs across the country.