By Editor
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested Nwabueze Izueke, a 62-year-old Lagos-based businessman, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, for allegedly attempting to traffic cocaine to China.
A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Izueke was apprehended on Saturday, during the outward clearance of passengers travelling to China via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.
Babafemi said the suspect tested positive for ingesting illicit drugs after a body scan and was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 95 jumbo-sized pellets of cocaine weighing 1.589 kilograms in seven rounds.
According to the NDLEA, Izueke, who claimed to be into clothing and auto spare parts business in Lagos, said he ventured into drug trafficking to raise funds to complete a house he is building in his hometown, Iwollo, Enugu state.
NATIONWIDE ARRESTS
The NDLEA spokesperson said its operatives also recorded multiple arrests and seizures across the country in the past week.
In Abuja, NDLEA officers recovered 627.7 kilograms of skunk from a makeshift warehouse at Fums Plaza, Kubwa, and foiled attempts to smuggle methamphetamine concealed in MP3 speakers from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna.
Babafemi said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ebube Okeke in Zuba, FCT, with 173 grams of meth, while Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Arinze and Friday Michael were arrested in Kaduna with another 28 grams when they arrived to collect the consignment.
In Taraba state, NDLEA operatives intercepted Yusuf Abubakar, 32, at a patrol point in Gassol LGA, recovering 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in packs of yoghurt being conveyed from Lagos to Mubi, Adamawa state.
He noted that NDLEA officers arrested a Beninoise national identified as Shuaibu Abdulrahman at Ibudo-Igboho village in Oyo state, with 149.6 kilograms of skunk concealed in rice shafts, while another suspect, Adeniyi Adeola, was arrested in Ibadan with 10,820 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 117,820 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also said a drug kingpin, Jimoh Nurudeen was arrested in Ibadan alongside Ogundipe Yusuf, at a facility where synthetic cannabis known as Colorado was produced.
Babafemi said some of the items recovered include precursor chemicals, drugs, N7.4 million in cash and two vehicles.
He added that in Kwara, NDLEA operatives intercepted a fuel tanker transporting petrol from Lagos to Maiduguri and recovered 395,400 capsules of tramadol concealed in the truck, while the driver was taken into custody.
According to him, NDLEA officers recovered large consignments of skunk, arresting a couple in Umuaka, Njaba LGAof Imo state and seizing 420 kilograms in a bush at Ikun Akoko in Ondo state.
Babafemi said the agency also recorded seizures in Lagos and Enugu, including cocaine recovered at the Badagry waterfront, 3.6 kilograms of Canadian Loud and Colorado on Lagos Island, and assorted drugs and cash from a suspect in Enugu.
He noted that NDLEA commands nationwide continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres and communities during the week.
Mohamed Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officers involved in the arrests and seizures, urging personnel across the country to sustain professionalism and commitment in drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
