Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola, a businesswoman based in Ibadan, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer, for their attempts to smuggle shipments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom, and Congo Brazzaville, respectively
On Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi reported that on Friday, September 6, 2024, officers at the export shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos intercepted a shipment destined for the United Kingdom.
A detailed inspection of the cargo uncovered 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup, totaling 135.7 kilograms, and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol concealed within cartons of foodstuffs.
Babafemi reported that Owojori Olanrewaju, the freight agent who presented the cargo for export, was promptly arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of Adewunmi Akeem, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola, had sent the consignment from Ibadan for him to deliver to the agent.
The spokesman indicated that a follow-up operation on Saturday, September 7th, resulted in the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan, where she is involved in foodstuffs and cargo export.
According to Owojori’s confession, he had been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK. He reported being paid N2,411,000.00 for this job and had previously received N2.1 million for a similar consignment handled for her.
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In a related incident, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport’s export shed intercepted cartons of auto spare parts and powder custard destined for Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines last Wednesday. A thorough search revealed 300 grams of cocaine hidden within the containers of checker powder custard, which were packed along with the auto parts.
Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA last Tuesday arrested two brothers: Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba who are alleged sponsors of drug traffickers who specialise in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam.
The NDLEA spokesman said their arrest followed diligent investigation of an earlier arrest of an Onitsha-based businessman, Ibeanusi Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282 kilogrammes after 12 days of excretion observation after he was arrested at the local wing of the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives.
Babafemi said the 36-year-old Ibeanusi was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, 8th August 2024 at the old domestic terminal of the Lagos airport while attempting to board the first flight out of Lagos to Abuja where he was scheduled to join a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10am same day.
He said another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Mbadugha had been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja airport on Monday 12th August 2024 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine. He noted that after four days under observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.71 kilogrammes.
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