*Arrests 2 Top Businessmen
By Abiola Olawale
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has continued to make a significant breakthrough in its fight against illegal drug trafficking, recovering a total of 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup at a Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.
The seizure was said to have an estimated street value of N4.4 billion. In another separate operation, the agency also said it confiscated drugs valued at N3.3 billion in Lagos State.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, the drugs were intercepted in shipments from India in Port Harcourt on December 9, 11 and 13.
He explained that the seizures were made during a joint examination of four containers by NDLEA officers, men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies at the port.
The statement reads in part: “At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state, no fewer than 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N4.4billion in street value were intercepted in shipments from India.
“One of the containers going to Ladipo market through the Sifax bonded terminal was examined on Thursday.
“Not less than 5.001kg methamphetamine were hidden in a bag wrapped in a bed sheet that came in a Toyota Camry car, was recovered while a businessman, Isaac Onwumere, linked with the consignment, was promptly arrested.
“The other container bearing automobile spare parts checked on Friday was found to contain 1,735 parcels of Loud packed in 44 jumbo bags with a total weight of 867.5kg.
“Another plastic cooler containing 87 packs of methamphetamine weighing 78.3kg was also recovered.
“Two businessmen have been arrested in connection to the seizure.
“The two meth consignments have a combined weight of 83.301kg and 867.5kg worth N2.1bn and N124.9m in street value.”
