The Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five members of an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand.
This happened in a two-week intelligence-led operation in Lagos, Abia, and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
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NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said: “The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday, April 20, when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace Airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
“After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter, was arrested on Wednesday, April 24, after he showed up to pick up two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand-based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.
“The consignment of four parcels was concealed in the false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms of Loud and drug candies.”
The NDLEA further said another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe, whose South Africa-based husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe, sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra State, where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday, April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.
“Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel, were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday, April 29. Their arrest led to another operation in Abia State, where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony, who is equally operating from South Africa,” the NDLEA stated.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on a stop and search operation along the Abuja-Abaji highway on Wednesday, May 1, intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG and, upon a thorough search, discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.
The consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo State and meant to be delivered to Abuja for further distribution.
The NDLEA said four suspects—Efe Abel Mikel, 39; Ebigide Cyril, 29; Ejechi Monday, 41; and Friday Benson Chukwudi, 39—have been arrested in connection with the seizure.