THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the suspect, who had reportedly liquidated all his assets in pursuit of quick riches through the illicit drug trade, cleverly concealed the suspected cocaine in the side walls and railings of his travel bag.
He said the suspect, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
“A search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of suspected cocaine factory-fitted in the walls and railings of his bag,” Babafemi said.
He said the suspect, in what he described as a candid confession that exposed the desperation fuelling the illicit drug trade, admitted that he had sold his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the N23 million he paid for the consignment.
According to Babafemi, the suspect said he raised the money with the expectation of selling the cocaine in India for as much as N100 million.
“With his assets gone, and his dream of transiting from a marble trader to a drug kingpin effectively shattered following his arrest, the suspect remains in custody awaiting prosecution and likely time in jail,” he said.
Babafemi said that in another operation, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.
According to him, the operation led to the discovery of a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup.
“A total of 3,776 cartons, comprising 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at over N2.6 billion, was recovered between Aug. 7 and 8,” he said.
He added that in another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Friday raided the residence of a 55-year-old drug kingpin at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja area of Lagos.
Babafemi said the operatives recovered 324 kilograms of suspected Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of N972 million, as well as a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car.
He said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands also continued within the period under review.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending the officers, men and women of the MMIA and Lagos commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures made within the period under review.
He also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.