The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested a Lagos-based businessman (names withheld) in connection with the shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a stronger strain of cannabis.
The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said in a statement yesterday in Abuja that the loud, was to be shipped from the U.S. to Nigeria.
According to Babafemi, the businessman, 43, was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, in the Lekki area of Lagos State, where he allegedly did his illicit drug business.
He noted that the businessman was expecting to take delivery of his latest drug consignment, when he was intercepted by the agency operatives.
“His arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived Nigeria in seven big cartons, at a logistics company in Lagos on March 12, by NDLEA operatives in the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation unit.
“After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search, during which 94grams of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered.
“This brings the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilograms.
“In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017,” Babafemi said
Meanwhile, in a similar development, the agency’s spokesman said the NDLEA also frustrated an attempt by another businessman, (names withheld) to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg, weighing 800 grammes to Italy.
Babafemi said the suspect was arrested by the NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja.
He added that he was intercepted at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy, via a Qatar Airways flight.
“Investigation reveals that the suspect, based in Italy, travels frequently and he is a logistics agent,” he said.
Marwa stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, were well appreciated.
He, however, extended his Eid-el-Fitri greetings to staff of the agency, their families, other stakeholders and Nigerians at large.
“May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us, as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society.
In another development, the drug law agency said it recovered about 86,000 opioid pills and arrested four suspects in connection with the seized drugs in Katsina State.
According to Babafemi, \ the four suspects were arrested and detained on March 28.
This, he said, was during an intelligence led raid operation at Godai village in the Daura LGA, Katsina where 684 blocks of compressed skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 423kg was also recovered
“In addition to the 86,000 pills of diazepam which was all recovered from them.
“The three male suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers while the female suspect was apprehended with the heaps of skunk in her house,” he said.
According to him, not less than 13,198 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo State forests between March 24 and March 28 by the NDLEA operatives, adding that the operatives also evacuated 158kg of the same substance for possible prosecution.
Similarly, he said the operatives discovered and destroyed no fewer than four cannabis plantations in Uhen forest, Ovia North East LGA; Sobe, Owan West LGA; and Amahor forest in Igueben LGA.
“108.5kg of skunk was recovered from lockup shops at Aria New Market, in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, March, 25.
