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N4.4bn worth cocaine seized at Lagos airport (Photos)

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… operatives busts international syndicate

…as NDLEA grills 30 suspects
. Intercepts UK, UAE, Australia-bound cocaine, cannabis, tramadol concealed in body cream containers, art work

The bid by members of an international drug syndicate that operates between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms has been thwarted and the consignments recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.

The drug consignments worth Four Billion Four Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,492,800,000) in street value were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during the post landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on Tuesday 29th October 2024.

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The illicit drug consignments were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft, from where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA was alerted about the strange objects.

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.

In the same vein, attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis and tramadol 225mg concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of art work to Australia, United Arab Emirate and United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos were also blocked by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Monday 28th October.

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At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 29th October intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N525, 000,000) in a targeted and watch-listed container from India during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, a suspect Mujahid Hamisu, 24, 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 state on Saturday 2nd November 2024, while another suspect Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the FCT.

In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand ,Two Hundred Naira (₦ 4,353,200), even as another suspect Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja- Okene- Abuja road on Thursday 30th October with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg

A notorious drug dealer Usman Abba (alias Timaya) who has been on the watchlist of the Katsina state command of NDLEA was on Wednesday 30th October arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis. Same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested a suspect Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.

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In Taraba, operatives on Friday 1st November arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo state on Monday 28th October.

A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on Saturday 2nd October arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo state led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.

Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Sanganare, Adamawa; students of College of Arts and Islamic Studies, Tungan Magajiya, Niger state; students and staff of Regina Catholic International College, Obehie, Abia state; students and teachers of Akinmorin Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo state; as well as students and teachers of Redeemer’s International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, among others.


While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

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Joint Security Patrol Team wastes Kidnapper in gun duel along Enugu/Ukwu Road

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Joint Security Patrol team led by the Anambra state police command has neutralized a notorious suspected kidnapper along the Enugu/Ukwu road .

The operation according to the state police command spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga was carried out with local vigilante group who identified the suspect before he was chased and engaged in an exchange before he was neutralized.

The joint security patrol team was said to have responded to a distress call of the planned attack by the gang members of the suspect, before acting swiftly to the scene and engaged them, which led to some of the gang members escaping with bullet wounds.

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One AK 47 rifle, two magazines and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect, as manhunt for the fleeing suspects continue according to the police. The Anambra police command urges residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their area to the nearest police station for prompt action.

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Just in : Dangote Refinery reduction in petrol price, now N970 per litre

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The Dangote Group has announced a reduction in the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N970 per liter.

This was contained in a statement issued by Anthony Chiejina, the Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, on Sunday.
Chiejina stated that the refinery has lowered its petrol price for marketers from N990 to N970 per liter, providing them with a N20 discount per liter.

Furthermore, he emphasized that despite the price reduction, the quality of the company’s products remains uncompromised.

The statement regarding the price adjustment reads:

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“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has effected a reduction in the prevailing price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N990/litre to N970/litre for the marketers.

“As the year comes to an end, this is our way of appreciating the good people of Nigeria for their unwavering support in making the Refinery a dream come true. In addition, this is to thank the government for their support as this will complement the measures put in place to encourage domestic enterprise for our collective well-being.

While the refinery would not compromise on the quality of its petroleum products, we assure you of best quality products that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

“We are determined to keep ramping up production to meet and surpass our domestic fuel consumption; thus, dispelling any fear of a shortfall in supply.”

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Insecurity! Bandits k!ll 7 farmers, burn 50 bags of maize in Niger state

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Bandits have k!lled seven farmers, including a vigilante, and burnt 50 bags of maize inside a truck in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sources on Saturday, November 23, told Daily Trust that the victims had gone to bring the harvested maize home from their farm when the bandits ambushed them, k!lled all the occupants in the truck and set the truck.

Bandits have killed seven of our farmers who had gone to farm to bring the maize they had harvested home. The attackers hid and waited until after the victims had loaded the 50 bags of maize into the truck and were about to take off to return home when they opened fire on them. After k!lling the victims, they also set the truck and the 50 bags of maize already loaded ablaze,” a source said.

He said it was difficult for farmers in Mariga to harvest their crops this year due to k!llings and kidnappings by bandits.

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