NDLEA seizes 225mg tramadol, €809,850 from Pakistan, Austria, Italy

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have seized at least 649,300 capsules of tramadol, totalling 225 mg and 809,850 Euros in Lagos.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, in Abuja said that the seized cash and drugs were among consignments from Pakistan, Austria and Italy intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Babafemi said that various quantities of heroin and other illicit drugs were also blocked from being exported to the U.S, the UK, and Canada by the operatives of the agency.

He also said that the tramadol capsules weighing 460.95 kgs were exported from Pakistan via Addis Ababa, through Ethiopian Airline on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

He added that they were seized at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company cargo warehouse at the airport and a suspect, Nwadu Christian, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

“On the same day, a female passenger, Ms. Ayeki Happy, who arrived at the airport from Italy on a Turkish Airline flight was arrested with 69,850 Euros cash concealed in her luggage.

“This was four days after another lady, Precious Idahagbon, was arrested with 740,000 Euros cash hidden in her luggage and undeclared upon her arrival at the airport, from Vienna, Austria, via Istanbul, Turkey.

“Both cash seizures are currently under investigation to establish if they are proceeds of a drug business,” he said.

Babafemi said that operatives seized a consignment of 131 parcels of cannabis concealed in packages of black soap (Dudu-Osun) going to the UK.

This, he said, was during the outward clearance of Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc export shed of the airport’s cargo.

“This is as another consignment presented for export to Dubai, UAE, at SAHCO shed was also recovered and 30 parcels of cannabis hidden in cartons of cornflakes were discovered in it.

“Not less than 6.5 kgs of Heroin, Khat and Oxycodone packaged for export to the U.S and Canada were seized at a major courier company in Lagos, by the operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations. The drugs were concealed in shoes, and carton walls,” he said.