The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has achieved significant success in its efforts to combat drug trafficking in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. Recently, the agency arrested several individuals involved in the illicit drug trade and intercepted multiple drug shipments.
One of the major arrests involved an artistes’ manager based in Lekki and his accomplice in Ikoyi. They specialized in distributing illicit drugs to patrons at VIP nightclubs and lounges in Lekki and Lagos Island. The NDLEA received intelligence about a shipment of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from Los Angeles, United States.
The first suspect, Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde (also known as Papalampa), was apprehended at his residence in Lekki when the consignment arrived on July 23rd. During the preliminary interview, he confessed to running the illicit trade for three years, supplying clubs such as Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA, and Hot box. Besides drug distribution, he also organized shows for artists in Lagos and abroad. NDLEA operatives intercepted ten parcels of Colorado, weighing 2.50kg, concealed inside large tins of coffee and duvets linked to Oseni.
In addition to this arrest, the NDLEA intercepted a cargo bound for Nairobi, Kenya, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) export shed. The shipment contained MDMA (Ecstasy) and Rohypnol concealed in foodstuff, and the presenting agent was arrested.
Moreover, the agency thwarted the attempts of other suspects trying to export drugs to Oman and Dubai. They intercepted quantities of Loud (a variant of cannabis), Tramadol, Rohypnol, and skunk hidden in various items such as skin lightening lotion bottles and foodstuff.
In Ondo state, several arrests were made, including suspects caught with large quantities of cannabis in Ita Ogbolu forest and Airport Junction along Akure-Ogbese Road. In Enugu state, another suspect was apprehended with skunk in a warehouse at Onuogba Eke during a raid operation.
The NDLEA’s joint examination of containers at the Apapa seaport led to the seizure of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) shipments imported from China by a businessman, Stephen Eze.
Additionally, the Nigerian Army’s 9th Brigade transferred three suspects arrested with a significant amount of cannabis sativa and the truck transporting the substance to the Lagos state Command of NDLEA.
These operations have demonstrated the NDLEA’s commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria and bringing perpetrators to justice.
