Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted about 2.7million tablets of tramadol 225mg weighing 1,650 kilogrammes worth N1.37 billion at Apapa port in Lagos.
The consignment packed in 55 cartons of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol types of tramadol was seized during examination of a container marked SUDU 7538656 on Saturday, July 30, following credible intelligence.
NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, yesterday, said the action comes on the heels of similar efforts by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, that thwarted bids by drug traffickers to export various psychoactive substances to London, United Kingdom (UK) and Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) through the Lagos airport in the past week.
According to him, at least, five suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the attempts.
He stressed that on Monday, July 25, a Dubai, UAE bound passenger Ms. Ebhodaghei Gloria Osenemeshen was intercepted during the outward clearance of travellers on Rwanda Air via Kigali to Dubai.
Discovered in her luggage were sachets of tramadol 225mg concealed inside gari, a cassava product packed among other foodstuffs.
She, however, claimed that the bag was given to her by someone who she spent the night in his house before coming to the airport to help deliver to another person in Dubai.
The following day, Tuesday, July 26, a total of 50 blocks of cannabis sativa with a total weight of 27.1kg concealed inside a large quantity of crayfish going to London, UK as part of a consolidated cargo were seized at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed.
Same day, a Dubai bound female passenger, Emebradu Previous Rachael, was arrested with 1.8kg cannabis packed inside bitter leaf in her luggage while attempting to board Rwanda Air flight to UAE via Kigali.
The Delta-born mother of one said she was into selling of men’s wears before she decided to travel to Dubai to expand her clothing business.
She claimed her ex-boyfriend, who lives in Dubai, requested her to bring the bag, which contains the illicit substance along with foodstuff.
