The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted two passengers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos traveling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight who tested positive for ingestion of illicit substances.
The suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were taken into custody on Friday, June 21.
Daniel excreted 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg, while Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of cocaine weighing 662 grams.
The Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi made this known in a statement on Sunday.
“Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany,” Babafemi stated. “He claimed he did this to get a Schengen visa for free access to Europe.”
NDLEA also announced the interception of 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, containing 1,050,000 bottles, valued at over N7.35 billion at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.
This significant seizure was made from six containers on Saturday, June 29, 2024, following credible intelligence and diligent tracking by a special operations unit of the NDLEA.
In another operation, NDLEA officers recovered 40.32 kg of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, from a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road on Friday, June 28, after the driver abandoned the vehicle.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug party titled “Go Hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison” on Friday night, arresting 60 suspects, including 25 males and 35 females, at an apartment in Sun City estate. The raid was based on credible intelligence about the party organized by Stanley Ikechukwu, who was also arrested.
“At least six suspects were found with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis,” Babafemi noted.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) directed that 20 suspects who tested negative for drugs be released unconditionally. The 33 others who tested positive were released on bail and will report to the FCT Command for treatment and counseling.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects and destroyed 18,632.22 kilograms of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland in the Ugun forest, Igueben LGA. The suspects are Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23.
Throughout the past week, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. These efforts included lectures and visits in Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano states.
Commending the efforts of NDLEA officers, Marwa warned drug cartels, “No matter the ingenuity of their modes of trafficking, the dedicated workforce of the Agency in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners will always be steps ahead to expose them and thwart their tricks.”
He encouraged officers to maintain their balanced approach to drug control efforts nationwide.
