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450.4kg of cocaine with a street value of over N4 billion has been seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)..

Announcing the seizure of the hard drugs, Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the agency disclosed that the cocaine was discovered by the anti-narcotics organisation after it figured out the major drug syndicate that specialises in the unlawful smuggling of cocaine from South American countries to West Africa.Photo:chinese Drug Gangs

Ahmadu Giade, chief executive of the agency said that the cocaine was imported from Chile, and that some barons in the cartel including two Chinese nationals have been arrested alongside their clearing agent who is a Nigerian.

He described the seizure as a major breakthrough in the country’s counter narcotics efforts, adding that this is the second largest cocaine discovery at the Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos State.

“The entire operation was intelligence-based and professionally executed. This is the second largest seizure of cocaine next to the 14.2 tons made at the same port in 2006,” he said. “The quantity is frightening and the street value paints a horrendous picture of the illicit drug trade. Apart from the estimated street value in the country the value would have doubled in Europe. The seizure is exciting to us. It is also a wakeup call for all hands to be on deck.” The agency’s boss, however, assured that investigations are ongoing to get other members of the syndicate arrested, and that it had kept tab on the consignment which originated from Chile and passed through Peru, Bolivia and Antwerpen in Belgium before getting to Tin Can Island Port.

“The drug was neatly concealed in customized floor wood inside a container which was cleared and taken to a private warehouse at Iganmu, Lagos,” he said.

“The agency is determined to send all drug barons out of circulation to prevent criminal acts capable of disrupting peace and stability in the country. I have therefore called for total security alertness in all entry and exit points. State Commanders have also been placed on red alert to ensure effective surveillance and prompt arrests and seizures of any illicit drug shipment.” Meanwhile, the agency’s spokesperson said that the clearing agent of the consignment and other people closely linked to the seizure were also arrested to ascertain their level of involvement as all the clearing documents had fake addresses on them.

“Drug seizures at the ports are usually very large because of the relative ease of transporting containerised goods in vessels and the volume of imported containers,” said Mr. Ofoyeju.

Anti-narcotics operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday disclosed the discovery of 1kg cocaine hidden in sandals by a Nigerian based in Spain.

According to the agency, the suspect, Ezeugha Sunny, was detected on an Iberia flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Wednesday attempting to smuggle the drugs to Europe.

“The cocaine was carefully packed in two 500g parcels and neatly hidden in a pair of sandals he was putting on at the time of screening,” said Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the agency.

Mr Ofoyeju disclosed that three other suspects also tested positive to drug ingestion, adding that two of them, Abuku Kennedy, 26, and Oparaji Anthony, 40, live in Spain, while Tochukwu Okeke, 35, lives in Monrovia, Liberia.

Ahmadu Giade, chief executive of the agency said that drug barons have nowhere to hide the illegal substance, stressing that the agency is determined to deal with the peddlers.

“The seizure is unique and the dedication of the officers must be commended. Drug barons will have their drug concealment methods discovered because we are prepared and committed to our duty of drug control,” he said. “Regular training in both interdiction techniques and passenger profiling is also our strength.” The suspect, who claimed to have got the sandals from a resident in Lagos, said that after losing his job in Europe, things became tough and he had no choice but to delve into crime..

“I work in Spain but I lost my job some months ago. Though I am single, it is difficult to cope in Europe without a job. It is joblessness that led me into drug trafficking. I needed money for my upkeep and when they told me that the drug will be inside my sandals, I felt it was a good plan to escape arrest but my desire did no work out,” he said.

Umar Hamza, airport commander for the agency, said that Tochukwu Okeke, one of the other arrested suspects, swallowed 45 pieces of narcotic substances on his way to Liberia.

According to him, the suspect was to board an Arik flight when he tested positive to drug ingestion.

“Oparaji Anthony ingested 71 wraps while Abuku Kennedy swallowed 45 wraps,” he said.

Mr Hamza added that the suspects are still on observation to expel the drugs in their stomachs.

“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed,” he said.

Nigerian police have arrested a couple after finding cocaine stuffed down the underwear of the mother and two six-year old twins as they tried to board a plane for London.

“Although the man was not found with any drugs, his wife and two children, who are twins aged six years, were found with cocaine hidden in their underwear,” an official of Nigeria’s drug law
enforcement agency said.

The woman was carrying more than three kilograms of cocaine while her children carried a total of around 700 grams, he said.

Narcotics agents detained the family as were was about to board a London-bound plane at Lagos’s Murtala Mohammed International airport on March 28.

“We have released the twins to other family members because they are minors and innocent while their parents will soon be taken to court for drug trafficking,” said the official..