NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Shipment of Businessman Headed To Vietnam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 40-year-old businessman, Ejike Chibuke Solomon, with 1.45 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage. Solomon was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while attempting to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight to Vietnam via Addis Ababa.

The interception, which took place on Saturday, 2nd March 2024, was the result of a thorough search conducted by NDLEA officers at the Abuja airport. The illicit substance was found factory-fitted in Solomon’s bag, prompting immediate action by the anti-narcotic agency.

According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Solomon claimed he was on a business trip to Vietnam. However, his attempt to transport cocaine raised suspicions and led to his arrest. This interception underscores the agency’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking activities and ensuring the safety and security of air travel.

In a coordinated effort to dismantle drug syndicates operating within Nigeria, NDLEA operatives raided the hideouts of suspected traffickers in parts of Lagos. On Friday, 1st March, members of a syndicate dealing in methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin were targeted by the agency’s special unit.

One of the raids led to the discovery of 10.012 kilograms of methamphetamine in the possession of 40-year-old Evelyn Nneka Okem at the residence of Esimone Amachukwu Christopher in Ejigbo, Lagos. Christopher, the alleged mastermind, is currently at large, evading arrest. Simultaneously, another raid conducted at the residence of 45-year-old Ebele Edwin Iwuegbunam in Festac Town, Lagos, resulted in the arrest of Iwuegbunam and the recovery of 429.5 grams of cocaine and seven kilograms of heroin.

Meanwhile, in Kogi State, NDLEA officers conducting a “Stop and Search” operation along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway intercepted a commercial bus transporting 28 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, 100 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, and 500 tablets of diazepam. The drugs were concealed in three plastic drums covered with cattle fats and were en route to Jos in Plateau State.

In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives recovered a consignment of 169 kilograms of cannabis abandoned in a truck at the Sagamu tollgate. Additionally, in Lagos, 25 cartons of tramadol containing 325,000 pills were seized in Ikeja. These operations reflect the agency’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking and prevent the illicit distribution of narcotics across Nigeria.

Furthermore, a 42-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Garba Khalil, was arrested with 2,745,000 capsules of pregabalin at Singer Market in the Sabon Gari area of Kano. The Department of State Security (DSS) handed Khalil over to the Kano State command of NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.

The series of successful interceptions and raids conducted by the NDLEA signify a major milestone in the fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria. The agency remains dedicated to its mandate of safeguarding public health and security by combating the illicit drug trade and holding traffickers accountable for their actions.