Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy (designer drug), and cannabis concealed in winter jackets and bottles of body cream at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement released on Sunday, April 16, the psychoactive substances were recovered at the new terminal of the airport on Friday, April 24 following the arrest of a passenger, Josiah Sunday, who was travelling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, Middle East.
Babafemi said a thorough search of the suspect’s two black bags led to the discovery of 4.80 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of tramadol, rohypnol, and ecstasy (designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect came into Nigeria from Oman on April 7, and was returning exactly a week after.
“In the same vein, a Lekki, Lagos-based businessman, Cyril Chidiebere, was on Friday 14th April arrested along with two of his freight agents: Mejabi Peter Sunday and Oyeyinka Babatunde over their involvement in the importation of twelve (12) parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 6.50kg, which was part of a consolidated cargo brought in from the United States of America.
“The arrest and seizure followed a three-day intelligence-led operation. Following the arrival of the cargo at the NAHCO import shed of the MMIA, its movement out of the airport was closely monitored in a sting operation until the actual importer, Cyril Chidiebere, was arrested in his house at Abraham Adesanya estate, Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos. Both Mejabi and Chidiebere have made useful statements to confirm that the latter has been involved in dealing illicit drugs in the past,” the NDLEA said.
