By Femi Anamelechi
His checked baggage contained 17 parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.5 kg and three parcels of cocaine totaling 3.05 kg, all concealed within bedsheets. A fellow passenger on the Ethiopian Airlines flight, Azu Follygan Kpodar, was also detained after officers discovered 1.25 kg of liquid cocaine hidden in a plastic soap container marked “YPE.” Kpodar claimed he purchased the substance while shopping for his wedding in Nigeria. NDLEA at the Seme border in Badagry on June 24 apprehended 26-year-old Beninese national Vode Jean-Luck attempting to smuggle 69 balls of skunk cannabis (29.5 kg) into Nigeria. In Kwara State, agents raided the Omu-Aran residence of notorious dealer Mary Bolanle Oladele, alias “Iya Nafi,” on June 25 and recovered quantities of skunk, Tramadol and Flunitrazepam. On same day in Warri, Delta State, 72-year-old grandmother Christy Ejaro was arrested at the Niger CAT area with several retail-packaged sachets of skunk. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy confirmed that all suspects are under interrogation white further operations continue to apprehend additional members of the smuggling network.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in a swift intelligence led operation cracked down an international narcotics Syndicate and also arrested former international footballer Segun George Hunkarin and his associate Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 24. Chinedu, a frequent flyer between Turkey and Nigeria, was stopped by NDLEA officers upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Consequently, search conducted on his carry-on bag revealed 37 wraps of cocaine totaling 800 grams concealed inside. Upon interrogation, Investigators learned that Chinedu had collected the luggage in Addis Ababa before boarding for Lagos. Vvv Authorities then tracked down Hunkarin, who was waiting in the airport car park to receive the drugs. Hunkarin admitted to past drug trafficking from Brazil to Ethiopia but denied smuggling into Nigeria. The arrested suspects were Both demanded in custody pending further investigations In another sting operation on June 27, Europe-based freight operator Amen Okoro Godstime was arrested at Lagos airport’s Terminal 2.Upon a search 5,000 tablets of Tramadol (225 mg) disguised as malaria medications—Lonart, Amatem and Aluktem—hidden among his luggage bound for Spain via Casablanca was discovered. Okoro told agents he intended to ship the pills on to Italy after traveling to France. That same day at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, NDLEA intercepted Maputo-based bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel.
