Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, for smuggling cocaine into Nigeria.
The arrest took place on Sunday, December 15, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, describing it as the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the MAKIA Command since its creation in 2006.
“The seizure, which is the single largest interception of cocaine at the Kano airport, was made during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” Babafemi stated.
Calistus, who claims to be an importer and exporter, was caught with 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6 kilograms. “He was subjected to a body screening, during which hundreds of cocaine pellets were found packed inside his body,” Babafemi revealed.
The NDLEA also intercepted other drug trafficking attempts in Lagos.
An ex-convict, Olanrewaju Bada Akorede, was caught at the export shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) while trying to smuggle Rohypnol to South Africa. His cargo, disguised with gari, shoes, and clothing items, was searched, revealing hidden drugs.
Babafemi explained, “Olanrewaju was convicted for a similar crime in December 2023. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N900,000, which he paid and was released, only to return to the same crime.”
Additionally, the NDLEA apprehended Italy-based businesswoman Cynthia Akaeen on December 18 at MMIA. She was caught attempting to smuggle 9,190 tablets of tramadol weighing 6 kilograms while boarding a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy.
“She admitted she was promised 1,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Italy,” Babafemi disclosed.
