In a series of coordinated operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple drug trafficking attempts across various points in Nigeria. These operations, aimed at curbing the influx of illicit drugs into the country and dismantling trafficking networks, have resulted in significant seizures and arrests.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives apprehended Freeman Charles Ogbonna, a passenger bound for Delhi, India, via Doha. Ogbonna, traveling under the alias Carr Bismark with a Liberian passport, was flagged during routine screening. Upon further examination, he was found to have ingested 80 wraps of cocaine. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesman, revealed that Ogbonna, after experiencing discomfort, excreted the wraps over a four-day period, totaling 889 grams. The suspect confessed to being recruited into drug trafficking in exchange for a promised reward of N300,000.
In a separate incident at the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers intercepted Imran Taofeek Olalekan, who was en route to Oman. Upon inspecting his luggage, a false bottom concealment containing drugs was discovered. Olalekan’s accomplice, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, was also apprehended. Notably, charms believed to be for protection against detection were found in their possession.
Further operations led to significant seizures at the Tincan seaport in Lagos, where 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, were intercepted. These drugs, weighing 1,072 kilograms, were concealed in various items within a container originating from Canada. Additionally, NDLEA operatives in Kano rearrested Gidado Sani, who had jumped bail on drug charges, and apprehended suspects in Ogun and Lagos with substantial quantities of cannabis.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the efforts of NDLEA commands across the country. He urged continued vigilance and intensified action against drug cartels. Additionally, Marwa emphasized the importance of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns, aimed at raising awareness and preventing drug abuse in communities nationwide.
