NDLEA Arrests Ugandan Woman With 87 Wraps Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Tuesday, November 3, while attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine to Uganda.

According to the NDLEA, she was intercepted at the screening point of Terminal 2 during a joint passenger screening operation with aviation security personnel.

A subsequent search reportedly led to the recovery of 87 wraps of cocaine strapped around her pelvic region and concealed beneath two layers of underwear.

The suspect told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a prayer session at The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos.

She allegedly remained behind after the other members of her delegation returned to Uganda to collect the drug on behalf of a friend residing in the country.

The agency said the suspect claimed she was directed to a contact in Nigeria who arranged her transportation to a hotel, where she received the consignment.

She was allegedly promised at least $1,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs.

In another operation at the Lagos airport on Friday, November 6, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at N900 million.

The consignment, which arrived from Ahmedabad, India, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on November 3, was declared as Paracetamol Tablets 500mg.

The agency said the drugs were concealed in 10 of the 11 cartons packed inside two wooden structures, with paracetamol tablets placed in the remaining carton as cover.

Also at the airport, operatives intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas in a consolidated cargo from Houston, Texas, United States.

Two suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the consignment during the initial interception and a follow-up operation.

The NDLEA also uncovered a syndicate allegedly involved in importing chemicals used in the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.

It said nine parcels concealed in cartons of snacks were intercepted in a consolidated cargo that arrived aboard an Air Peace flight on October 23.

Two of the parcels contained 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis, while forensic analysis confirmed that the remaining seven contained chemicals used in the production of synthetic cannabis.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the consignment and subsequent deliveries from the UK.

The NDLEA said a search of additional cartons led to the recovery of 3.30 kilogrammes of substances concealed in detergent packs and 16.25 kilogrammes of mostly liquid chemicals in plastic bottles.

The seizures brought the total recovery from the operation to 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis and 28.65 kilogrammes of chemicals used in producing synthetic cannabis.

At courier companies in Lagos, operatives also intercepted 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes and packaged in two cartons for shipment to the United Kingdom on November 3.

Earlier, on October 30, the agency intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol destined for Australia, alongside three shipments of tramadol bound for the UK.

The tramadol consignments included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, as well as 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba hidden in female head wears.

In a separate operation in Lagos, a 32-year-old man was arrested at Marine Beach, Apapa, on November 6, following the discovery of a drug storage facility inside his apartment.

Items recovered from the premises included 1.06 kilogrammes of Tramadol 250mg, 1.27 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, 400 grammes of pregabalin capsules, 355 grammes of diazepam, 200 millilitres of codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The agency also reported major seizures in Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Taraba states.

In Ondo State, operatives recovered 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818 kilogrammes during a raid on Odofin Road, Uso, on November 6.

On the same day, officers raided a cannabis farm in Board Forest, destroying a one-hectare plantation, recovering 242 kilogrammes of cannabis and arresting a 36-year-old suspect.

In neighbouring Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man was arrested at Osin Forest, Osin Ekiti, on November 5, with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.

In Edo State, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf saloon car loaded with 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.

The driver and a passenger were arrested.

Three other suspects were also arrested during a raid on a drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, where quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis were recovered.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes during stop-and-search operations at the agency’s checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area.

The arrests were made over two days, with one suspect apprehended on November 5 with 156 blocks weighing 149.275 kilogrammes, while another was arrested the same day with 80 blocks weighing 40.07 kilogrammes.