By Adedapo Adesanya
National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers arrested a cleaner at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, Mr Ohiagu Sunday, who is believed to be leading a drug syndicate at the international wing of the airport.
This was revealed by NDLEA Spokesperson Mr. Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, noting that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday August 23 following the arrest of a scheduled passenger on an airline flight. ‘Air Peace bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Obinna Jacob Osita who was arrested with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 4.25 kg concealed in cassava product, garri and crayfish.
Another airport union member who works with Ohiagu has also been arrested as officers search for another suspect.
Investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug trafficker had recruited Obinna, a 42-year-old man from Oyi local government area in Anambra State, to traffic drugs and had also hired Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner from Orlu West Local Government Area. of Imo State to create an access allowing the unhindered passage of the trafficker.
The drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new MMIA terminal, follows the seizure of a shipment of bottles of Viju drink and Fearless energy drinks used to conceal the skunk for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates via the NAHCO Export Hangar on Monday August 15th. A cargo agent has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a similar vein, an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through Lagos airport on Wednesday August 24 was foiled during a customs clearance of Ethiopian Airline passengers to Oman via Addis Abeba.
Another suspect, Mr. Jonah Chukwuemeka was arrested with a total of 1,995 Tramadol tablets with a gross weight of 900 grams hidden in carobs in his luggage. The bag containing the illicit substance was given to him at the airport by a certain Olagunju Abbas who was quickly arrested.
Packs of Tramadol 225mg containing 119,500 capsules were transferred to the NDLEA on Thursday August 25 by Nigerian Customs, cargo wing of the MMIA. The shipment had arrived by Ethiopian Airlines from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers on Saturday raided a car shop, Bolak Motors, at Ewela bus stand, Oshodi, where 615.2kg bags of cannabis were recovered as well only nine vehicles. Efforts are underway to track down the car dealer, Alhaji Ismail, who is currently at large.
As many as eight suspects were arrested and bags of illicit drugs were seized from them when Akerele region in Agege, Shogunle and Mafoluku regions in Oshodi, Fagba region in Ogba, Ipodo region in Ikeja and Iyana Ipaja Park were raided in the state.
In Yobe State, two fake security guards suspected of carrying 14 kg of cannabis in Maiduguri, Borno State were intercepted along the Potiskum-Damaturu road. While Adetula Olarenwaju was arrested with four blocks of substance on Thursday August 25 on his way from Lagos, Sadiq Garba returning from Gombe was caught with 22 blocks of substance on Saturday August 27.
Similarly, in Edo, Abu Segun Sunday was arrested with 48.4 kg of cannabis at Idk ward, Ibilo, while Rosemary Afekhuai was arrested with 1,130 capsules of tramadol, among others at Oluma ward, Otuo, Owan East LGA .
In Delta, a Mustapha Isah was arrested at Oko market with 9,800 tramadol capsules weighing 6.4 kg while NDLEA officers in Kaduna also caught Mr. Chinedu Onnuka, in Narayi Kaduna with 33,000 tablets of bromazepam.
No less than 80 blocks of Cannabis Sativa were recovered from an abandoned tricycle with reg. no: BAU 70 WL while 25,000 tablets of exol-5 were seized from a dealer, Usman Muhammed who was arrested along the Bauchi-Gombe road.
A raid on a market in Mubi, Adamawa State on Wednesday August 24 led to the seizure of 62,360 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 while two suspects, Sirajo Idris and Anas Abubakar were arrested the same day with 107 pallets of cannabis in Kamba, a border town in Kebbi State.
The skunk weighing 90 kg was smuggled from the Republic of Benin.
In Kano, a suspected drug trafficker, Mr. Lawal Adamu, 31, was arrested along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora, with 203 blocks of cannabis weighing 136 kg, while another suspect, Taheer Abdullahi was arrested on Friday August 26 in Gadar Tamburawa with 3,000 vials of injectable tramadol.
A raid operation in Kara Masaka, behind Mararaba market and Zamani estate, on Saturday August 27, led to the arrest of 26 suspects, while 25.7 kg of cannabis, 4.5 kg of codeine and 300 rohypnol tablets were seized from the raided drug joints.
Meanwhile, in Sokoto State, Ruga Village Chief, Shagari LGA, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed (alias Danbala), a notable suspect who was arrested on Monday August 22 will face charges at any time. Prior to his recent arrest in which 436.381 kg of cannabis and 1 kg of diazepam were recovered from his home, a previous search of his home on July 20, 2022 had also led to the seizure of 11.5 kg of cannabis, 2.259 kg of exol5 and 500 grams of diazepam.
On his part, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Mr. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of MMIA Commands, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Edo, Delta and Lagos for arrests and seizures.
He instructed them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars.
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