The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it had seized at least 649,300 capsules of Tramadol, totaling 225 mg and 809,850 Euros in Lagos.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, issued yesterday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the seized cash and drugs were among consignments from Pakistan, Austria and Italy intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He said that various quantities of Heroin and other illicit drugs were also blocked from being exported to the U.S, the UK, and Canada by the operatives of the agency.
He also said that the tramadol capsules weighing 460.95 kgs were exported from Pakistan via Addis Ababa, through Ethiopian Airlines on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
He added that they were seized at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) cargo warehouse at the airport and a suspect, Nwadu Christian, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
“On the same day, a female passenger, Ms. Ayeki Happy, who arrived at the airport from Italy on a Turkish Airline flight was arrested with 69,850 Euros cash concealed in her luggage.
“This was four days after another lady, Precious Idahagbon, was arrested with 740,000 Euros cash hidden in her luggage and undeclared upon her arrival at the airport, from Vienna, Austria, via Istanbul, Turkey.
“Both cash seizures are currently under investigation to establish if they are proceeds of a drug business,” he said.
Babafemi said that operatives seized a consignment of 131 parcels of cannabis concealed in packages of black soap (Dudu-Osun) going to the UK.
This, he said, was during the outward clearance of Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the airport’s cargo.
“This is as another consignment presented for export to Dubai, UAE, at SAHCO shed was also recovered and 30 parcels of cannabis hidden in cartons of cornflakes were discovered in it.
“Not less than 6.5 kgs of Heroin, Khat, and Oxycodone packaged for export to the U.S and Canada were seized at a major courier company in Lagos, by the operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, (DOGI). The drugs were concealed in shoes, and carton walls, ” he said.
Babafemi said that a 34-year-old Nasiru Abdulrahman was similarly arrested with 476 kgs of cannabis at Kwanar Dan Gora, in Kiru local government area of Kano, on Friday.
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He said that 4,000 tablets of tramadol 225 mg were also seized from one, Abdulmuminu Abubakar, 24, who was arrested at Gidan Madara, Mubi North LGA in Adamawa.
The NDLEA spokesman said that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday while traveling on a motorcycle to deliver the drugs in Bukula, Cameroon Republic.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), as commending the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Adamawa, and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures.
