The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a cautionary message to Nigerians, urging them to exercise vigilance when receiving packages from individuals while travelling to avoid potential legal entanglements.
NDLEA said this in a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, released on Sunday.
It read, “Operatives of the NDLEA had intercepted various quantities of ephedrine, skunk and nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas concealed in Semovita packs and dry pepper being shipped to South Africa and Kenya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos
“The parcel of a packaged food item isn’t always what you think it is. Again, we insist, don’t accept any item not packed by you when travelling. Save yourself the ordeal.”
The agency said the narcotics were being shipped by some drug peddlers of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organisations.
It disclosed that some of them were promptly arrested, their mansions raided and their luxury vehicles seized.
In a statement posted on the agency’s website, NDLEA spokesperson Babafemi reported, “Based on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives successfully apprehended a notorious drug trafficker, Suleiman Babatunde Oba, on Friday, August 25th. Oba is a member of a drug cartel involved in the distribution of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Ephedrine across multiple countries, including Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
“Oba was taken into custody as he attempted to board a Rwanda Air flight bound for South Africa. He was found in possession of two boxes containing ephedrine concealed within semovita packs. Ephedrine is a precursor chemical and a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine.
“In his statement, Suleiman, who holds a South African passport and has resided there for over two decades, identified Hakeem Babatunde Salami, a resident of both Lagos and South Africa, as the leader of the drug trafficking ring.
“Subsequently, a follow-up raid was conducted at Salami’s residence on 75 Wosilatu Dawodu Street, Ijesha, Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos on Monday, August 28th, revealing that Salami had fled the country on the same day Suleiman was arrested.
However, law enforcement officers recovered a white Toyota Venza with registration number LSR 410 HT, a Mercedes Benz SUV bearing the mark LSD 998HP, as well as mobile phones and essential documents required for further investigation from Salami’s residence.”
The statement continued, “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives also managed to apprehend a significant drug kingpin, Ngene Emmanuel Onyedikachi, on Friday, August 25th. Onyedikachi was responsible for recruiting the fake couple, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, who were previously arrested for attempting to smuggle 1.822kg and 1.50kg of Cocaine, respectively, through the Lagos airport on August 1st while en route to India.
“The kingpin was captured at his residence, situated at 28 Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Yaba, following an intensive 25-day surveillance operation.”
