- Seizes bandits’ supply in Niger
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday, July 31, recovered 35 wraps of cocaine from the underwear of a woman, Okafor Ebere Edith.
The illicit drugs were found on her during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Cotevoire, to Monrovia, Liberia from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Edith had allegedly tucked the pellets of cocaine in her underwear to beat security checks at the airport, but was however picked up for search and questioning during which the wraps of the illicit drug were found on her.
Spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the development in a statement, said during preliminary interview, she claimed her desire to make money pushed her into drug trafficking.
He said another suspect, Echendu Jerry Maduakolam, an intending male passenger going to Istanbul was arrested at Gate A departure hall of the MMIA on Tuesday, July 27, during the outward clearance of Egypt airline to Turkey with 78grams of cannabis mixed with dried bitter leaves.
On the same day, another intending male passenger, Egbon Osarodion going to Milan, Italy was arrested at the airport’s Gate A departure hall during outward clearance of passengers on Egypt airline with different quantities of 225mg Tramadol and Rohypnol concealed in foil papers wrapped in a polyethylene bag.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives from Kontagora Area command of the agency in the early hours of Thursday, July 29, raided a warehouse at Mailefe village in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger state, where drug supplies for bandits operating in parts of the state were stored.
Babafemi said after a thorough search of the warehouse, 125 bags of cannabis sativa were recovered while a man seen praying in front of the house fled into the forest when he sighted the narcotic officers from a distance.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has commended the commanders, officers and men of the MMIA and Niger state commands of the agency for their continued efforts in tracking down traffickers of illicit drugs in their areas of responsibility.
He charged them to remain focused and resolute in pursuit of the goal to rid Nigeria of illicit substances and drug related criminalities.
