TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, a 34-year-old man from Suriname, with 9.9 kilograms of cocaine.

Albert was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the Surinamese claimed to be visiting his long-lost Nigerian father.

“A 34-year-old South American man from Suriname, Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state for bringing into Nigeria 117 parcels of cocaine concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray,” the agency said.

“The suspect claimed he departed his country, Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on 2nd April for Sao Paulo, Brazil and from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday 7th April, 2023 on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called ‘Omini.”

The NDLEA said its agents also intercepted 110 parcels of the Colorado strain of cannabis at Tincan Island Port in Lagos. The consignment, weighing 55kg, was said to have been concealed in a container marked MSCU 4972769 from Toronto via Montreal, Canada.

“The illicit consignment was discovered in the container bearing five units of used vehicles, during a joint examination of the cargo by NDLEA and other port stakeholders,” the NDLEA said.

“The seizure was part of a total of 1,559.3 kilograms (1.5 tons) of the psychoactive substance seized during interdiction operations in five states in the past week.

“While two suspects: Nura Ibrahim, 40, and Habibu Sadiq, 38, were arrested with 120 blocks of cannabis weighing 148.7kg along Zaria-Kano road, Kano on Sunday 2nd April, not less than 418.5kg of the same substance and a sienna space bus used in conveying it were recovered on Thursday 6 April at a notorious drug hub, Patey, Lagos Island.

“A suspect, Azi Solomon was arrested same day at Ojota garage while attempting to move 23kg cannabis to another state. Similarly, two suspects: Abubakar Abdulahi and Stanley Tobias were arrested on Friday 7 April with 108,000 tablets of tramadol at Oyingbo motor park in Lagos mainland.

“In Imo, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol along Owerri – Onitsha expressway intercepted a commercial bus from which a total of 37, 210 pills of opioids and 30 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered and three suspects arrested in follow up operations.

“A total of 40.9kg cannabis was seized from two suspects: Haruna Adamu, 32, and Salisu lbrahim, 30, in parts of Taraba, just as 502, 840 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect, Imrana Aliyu in Wukari on Thursday 6h April while 205.6kg was recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect in Gida Dubu area of Bauchi metropolis.

“The Sokoto state command of the Agency also received 667.6kg cannabis seized by men of the Customs Service along llela-Niger Republic border.”

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the operatives across the country and encouraged them to maintain their vigilance and professionalism in reducing drug supply.