The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major drug syndicate with the arrest of an Indian national, Gupta Ravi Kumar, and three Nigerians in connection with a N3.9 billion shipment of tramadol smuggled into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspects Ogunlana Olanrewaju, Olushola Kayode, and Bakare Muheeb were linked to the illegal importation of 2,248,000 tramadol tablets (200mg/225mg), which arrived from Delhi, India, concealed as multivitamin supplements in 114 cartons via an Ethiopian Airlines flight on September 8.
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NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that officers had placed the suspicious shipment under watch and moved in on September 11, arresting a clearing agent and two truck drivers attempting to move the consignment. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Kumar as he attempted to take delivery of the drugs.
“NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that officers had placed the suspicious shipment under watch and moved in on September 11, arresting a clearing agent and two truck drivers attempting to move the consignment. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Kumar as he attempted to take delivery of the drugs.”
“At the MMIA Terminal 2, another passenger, Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi, was caught while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha with 900 grams of skunk hidden in crayfish. His confession led to the arrest of his accomplice, Ohadiegwu Anthony Uchenna, whose hotel room search uncovered another 200 grams of the same substance.”
In other operations across the country:
Tincan Port, Lagos: Officers intercepted a container of vehicle spare parts from Montreal, Canada, and found 161 parcels of Canadian Loud (81.7kg) and 1.2kg of hashish oil. Two suspects, John Ochigbo (53) and Okeke Kingsley (26), were arrested.
Third Mainland Bridge: Operatives seized 65kg of Loud from a Toyota Sienna and arrested the driver, Abubakar Ibrahim (42).
Courier Firms in Lagos: NDLEA intercepted methamphetamine in a picture frame bound for Gabon, and 1.1kg of Loud hidden in decoders headed to the UAE.
Ikorodu, Lagos: A skuchies factory was raided, with 6,029 bottles of the cannabis-laced drink and 4,232kg of cannabis seized. The manager, Joy Awosika, was arrested. In Mushin, Akeem Oriola was caught with 26kg of skunk.
Abuja (Utako): Dispatch rider Godsplan Vincent (29) was arrested with 50.7 grams of cocaine and 66 grams of Loud.
Oyo State: Three women Faidat Azeez (25), Alanu Fatimoh (40), and Mojeed Taiwo (25) were arrested with 17kg of skunk.
Kano: Musa Shuaibu (38) was found with 100,000 tramadol pills, while other seizures included 196 litres of akuskura, 34.1kg of skunk, 493 tubes of rubber solution, and 25 litres of “suck and die.”
Anambra State: A couple, Nzube and Ebele Onyedika, were arrested with 13.9kg of methamphetamine and 5.3kg of skunk. Another suspect, Nnamchi Tochukwu, was caught with a cocktail of meth, tramadol, swinol, heroin, and skunk.
Yobe State: Mohammed Auwal was caught with 22.1kg of cannabis.
Ogun State (Imeko): In a joint operation with the police, three cross-border traffickers—Kunyadi Ogbungbun (24), Olalekan Adewale (20), and Sanya Joshua (22)—were nabbed with 394kg of skunk.
Edo State: NDLEA agents destroyed a massive 6.7-hectare cannabis farm with over 16,966kg of cannabis in Ugbogyi forest, Ovia South West LGA. Another 1,176kg was recovered, with four suspects arrested.
Commending the agency’s operatives, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) emphasized the importance of sustained vigilance.
“These arrests and seizures show the comprehensive strategy we’re using to address the drug problem from all fronts,” he said.
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