Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after he allegedly ingested 98 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
Cyril was intercepted at the departure hall on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930. Placed under excretion observation, he passed 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.51kg. Investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight.
He reportedly told NDLEA that he had run a business in Italy for years and agreed to traffic the consignment for €3,500 to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family lives. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives foiled a separate attempt to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers bound for Saudi Arabia via a courier firm.
A similar attempt to smuggle 500g of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy was intercepted at another logistics company on August 3, while 2.3kg of “Loud”, a synthetic cannabis strain arriving from the United States, was seized at a shipping company on August 4.
Along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, officers on patrol intercepted a truck carrying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts on August 4. Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested.
A further 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid the previous day. In Oyo State, a tip-off led operatives to a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on August 3, where 731.03kg of drugs were recovered. A suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, was arrested, while her partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers, backed by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on August 5. In Abia State, a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested and 7kg of skunk seized during a raid in Osisioma Local Government Area on August 6.
In Lagos, a long-wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the fibre market drug enclave in Badagry on August 8 after a three-month manhunt. A total of 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
At Tincan Port, a joint operation by the NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies uncovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.
The consignment, hidden in a 40-foot container, was intercepted on August 4, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure. Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The campaigns were held at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State. The Rivers State Command also held a WADA advocacy visit to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
See also Assemblies of God Nigeria Condemns Attack on Ughelli Church. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for the operations. He urged them to remain committed to the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
