Two pregnant women have been arrested on suspicion of attempting to import and export illicit drugs
In the recent week, NDLEA agents arrest 2 pregnant women at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to import and export illicit substances through the airport.
Nworie Phillip Chikwendu, a Brazilian returnee, was arrested on May 3rd during an inward check of passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy (NDLEA), stated in a statement on Sunday that two packets of cocaine were discovered disguised in a pair of brown slippers stashed in his oxblood rucksack following a thorough examination of his luggage.
He said that a search of the suspect’s black slippers turned out two more packs of cocaine built into the footwear soles, bringing the total to four parcels weighing 800 grams.
“When undergoing a preliminary interview, Nworie who claimed to be a barber in Sao Paulo, said he came to Nigeria for the burial of his father. He confessed he decided to get into the criminal act because his trip was sponsored by his Brazil-based friend who gave him the drug to deliver in Lagos for a fee of N2, 000, 000.
“The following day, Wednesday 4th May, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport intercepted some cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to contain illicit drugs. A freight agent who brought the consignment for export to Dubai, UAE, Shola Ogunrinde was immediately arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Seun Babatunde, who operates an alcohol joint in Iyana Ipaja.
“When the cartons were opened in the presence of the agent and the pregnant owner, seven parcels of cannabis and a sachet of ecstasy drug (MDMA) were found concealed inside Cans of black bullet alcoholic drinks. In her confession, Mrs. Babatunde claimed the drugs were being sent to her husband who lives in Dubai”, the statement read in parts.
Mrs. Gloria Asibor, the second pregnant woman, was arrested on Thursday, May 5th, while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines aircraft to Bolonia, Spain via Istanbul, Turkey, according to Mr. Babafemi. Her suitcase, which contained food items, was searched, and 300 high-dose Tramadol tablets of 200mg and 225mg were discovered hidden in crayfish.
Large consignments of psychoactive substances have been confiscated in the Northwest, Northeast, and North Central, according to him. Obinna Anene a.k.a Young Alhaji, a drug dealer from Kaduna, was arrested on Friday 6th May at Buwaya Kaduna with 50,000 Diazepam tablets weighing 9kg, 595 Tramadol tablets weighing 318grams, and 8 Co-codamol tablets weighing 6grams.
“Same day, a trafficker, Alhaji Modu Yahaya was caught with 26.5kg cannabis in Damaturu, Yobe state while travelling in a commercial vehicle from Abuja to Maiduguri, Borno state.
“At least, nine drug dealers were arrested by operatives in Lagos on Thursday 5th May during raids in black spots in Mushin Olosha and Akala as well as Langbasa and Ikota in Ajah area of the state with different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cannabis, and Skuchies. Those arrested include Kehinde Ilori; Osho Demola Nurudeen; Kamarudeen Isiaka; Kazeem Ishola; Afeez Adebolade; Oguntana Aduragbemi; Chuks Alowai; Mrs. Bola Kazeem and Kehinde Ogunleye”, the statement added.
NDLEA operatives in Plateau state seized a vehicle carrying 673.3 kilograms of cannabis along the Bassa/Rukuba Barracks route in Jos, while the driver and his aide ran into the woods. Two traffickers, Manga Emmanuel and Yusuf Usman, were detained with 34 pinches of cocaine and 400 grams of cannabis at the old airport and Rikkos, respectively, in separate districts of the state capital.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, has praised the officers and men of the MMIA, Kaduna, Yobe, Lagos, and Plateau Commands for the arrests and seizures.
He charged them, as well as others in various commands across the country, to keep the pressure on drug cartels while also balancing drug supply reduction and demand.
