TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted and seized 30.10 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in containers of powdered custard at the Lagos airport.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson announced the development in a statement on Sunday.

He said the illicit drug has a street value of N567 million and was to be transported to the United Kingdom when it was intercepted on May 16.

The consignment weighed 30.10 kilograms and was part of a “consolidated cargo” to London.

The agency’s spokesperson said a “series of follow-up operations” led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere; a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta and the ultimate drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who was arrested on May 18, at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

“Ezeh claims he is a businessman and deals in articles in Onitsha, Anambra state but investigations reveal he lived with his wife and children in London until 10th December 2022, when he fled to Nigeria after his involvement in a drug-related offence in the UK.

“Though he claimed to have been living in hotels since his return to Nigeria last December, operatives were, however, able to locate his mansion at No. 1 Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on Friday 19th May, where a search was conducted and his travel and property documents among others were recovered.”

Babafemi also said the operatives arrested a notorious drug dealer in Mubi LGA of Adamawa state.

“NDLEA operatives in Adamawa on Monday 15th May, arrested a 32-year-old notorious drug dealer, Prince Ikechukwu Uzoma, in Mubi area of the state with 1kg of skunk,” he said.

“Ikechukwu had twice been arrested in the past, and convicted for the same offence. He was in 2017 sentenced to six months imprisonment and in 2019, he was again sentenced to two years in jail.”

Also, on Wednesday, May 17, Faisal Mohammed, 27, a trans-border trafficker, was arrested in Mubi, following the interception of a truck from Onitsha, Anambra state.

A total of “2,376 sachets of tramadol comprising 23,760 pills” were found concealed in three blue rubber Jerrycans, hidden underneath the trailer.

The suspect admitted the opioid was to be taken to Cameroon.

Babafemi added that the agency also arrested some suspects and made seizures of illegal substances in Oyo, Kaduna, Edo, Anambra, Kwara, Jigawa and Kano states.

Editor’s note: This report has been updated to reflect the accurate figure of the illicit consignment weighing 30.10kg.