- These operations led to the apprehension of a notable drug kingpin and the seizure of substantial quantities of cannabis and codeine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has successfully thwarted drug syndicates’ efforts to smuggle Methamphetamine and opioids disguised within various items like jeans, dolls, buttons, soap, and milo tins destined for Europe, UAE, and Asia.
This achievement was disclosed in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on the agency’s Facebook page on Sunday.
Moreover, the NDLEA conducted raids in multiple locations including Lagos, Edo, Delta, Bauchi, FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, and Kogi. .
These operations led to the apprehension of a notable drug kingpin and the seizure of substantial quantities of cannabis and codeine.
The statement in part said, “Crooked attempts by drug syndicates to export illicit substances including various quantities of methamphetamine and opioids concealed in hems of new jeans trousers, dolls, buttons, local soap and tins of milo beverage to Europe, United Arab Emirate and Asia have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at some courier firms in Lagos.
“Some of the consignments intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, at courier houses in Lagos include: tramadol 225mg concealed in hems of new jeans trousers heading to Cyprus; shipment of cannabis sativa hidden in heads of dolls going to Dubai, UAE; sachets of tramadol 225mg buried in tins of milo beverage going to UAE and another set of the same drug hidden in local soap also going to UAE, as well as a consignment of methamphetamine concealed in buttons heading to Hong Kong.
“A shipment of another illicit substance coming from Florida, USA was equally intercepted at a courier firm while the recipient, Daniel Ogi was tracked by NDLEA officers and arrested at 5 Akeem Shittu Street, Ajao Estate Lagos on Friday 24th November 2023.
“Operatives in Lagos on Friday 1st December also arrested a drug kingpin, Okechukwu Ogala, 56, who specialises in exploiting and recruiting young citizens to export meth to Asian countries. He was arrested at Blue Moon Hotel in the Okota area of Lagos with 60 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.009 kilograms.”