The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated over N4 billion worth of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.
Mr Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
Babafemi said the agency’s operatives confiscated the consignments in 845 wraps on October 29.
He added that the consignments, weighing 18.72 kilograms, were concealed in two lavatories of an Ethiopian-bound flight and that they were found during post-landing cleaning of the cabin.
He said that the illicit consignments were wrapped in polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft when they were recovered.
“No fewer than 30 suspects have so far been grilled in connection with the seizure.
Investigations revealed that the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers while some other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport before their attempt was frustrated with the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders,” the statement reads.
Babafemi noted that the incident occurred on October 29.
He added that NDLEA officials also intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth N525 million in a targeted and watch-listed cThe spokesperson said the agency’s officers, on October 28, countered attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of artwork to Australia, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), and the United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos.
ARRESTS MADE IN FCT, KOGI, TARABA
Meanwhile, in the federal capital territory, the NDLEA said Mujahid Hamisu, a 24-year-old, was arrested with 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway on his way from Onitsha, Anambra, on Saturday.
He said operatives caught one Seun Abimbola on the same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at the Giri junction area of the FCT.
He said in Kogi, officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja with fake naira notes worth N4.3m after a search of her luggage.
In Taraba, Danlami Fakwa, 46, was arrested at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg of cannabis.
Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, and Edo were also list.
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