By Ken Afor
After an extensive manhunt spanning over two months, officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully apprehended three individuals suspected of being part of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate.
In a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the suspects were allegedly involved in the illicit trade of narcotics across multiple countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America.
According to the statement, since the manhunt of the three suspects which started in February, the NDLEA has been able to recover 51.90 kilograms of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
The statement reads: “Over two months after they were declared wanted, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested three members of an organised criminal organisation which specialises in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America following the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
“A total of 51.90Kg of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began on February 10, 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.
“The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70kg recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2kg was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.
“While the agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also been launched for others who went underground. The effort, however, paid off on Friday, April 19, when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra State respectively.
“Another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Obinna was equally nabbed in Lagos.”
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives foiled an attempt by a suspect named Iheakara Festus to smuggle a drug consignment through Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport bound for Muscat, Oman, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight on April 18, 2024.
Upon inspecting his luggage, the operatives uncovered 20 packages of cannabis, totaling 9.80kg, concealed in the luggage.
Festus, residing in Muscat and returning to Nigeria on April 1, confessed to acting as a courier for the drug, with a promise of N1.2 million upon successfully delivering it to Oman.
Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Peugeot car driven by Dahiru Mohammed on April 20 in Girei. The vehicle was found to be transporting 1,250,000 pills of opioids, weighing 450kg, destined for Mubi.
Elsewhere, the anti-narcotics operatives intercepted a J5 bus carrying motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, on the Ngurore-Yola Road. Hidden among the motor parts were bottles of Codeine Syrup and packs of Tramadol.
Following this discovery, they apprehended the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor, at Jambutu Motor Park during a subsequent operation.
In another seizure, three individuals—Beriakuma Chinrdu (40), Okpor Isaac (68), and Daniel Onyeachom (42)—were apprehended in Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on April 20. They were found in possession of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36kg, concealed within a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car with the registration number MUS 711 DH.
In a separate incident in Imo State on April 18th, NDLEA operatives arrested Kingsley Omeje (41) in Amajeke, Owerri, while receiving a delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he had ordered.
In Ondo State, the operatives conducted a raid on the Oloro camp in Ogbese, Akure North LGA, resulting in the arrest of Linus Odogwu (50). During the operation, they also dismantled 25,000kg of cannabis cultivated on a 10-hectare farmland and seized an additional 89.5kg of the same substance.
Furthermore, three other individuals—David Obungete Ekepenyoung (22), Oluwaseun Folorunso (23), and Rabiu Musa (32)—were apprehended in various locations within the state in connection to separate seizures, totaling 77kg.
