NDLEA arrests ex-convict who smuggled drugs hidden in car, shoes at Lagos air

NDLEA  arrests ex-convict  who smuggled drugs hidden in  car, shoes at Lagos airport.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two  persons, including a businessman and an ex-convict, in separate attempts to  smuggle illegal drugs  into South Africa and  Italy.
The agency also seized over 1 million opioid pills  in coordinated  multi-state operations.
The arrests and seizures were disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi,  Director of Media and  Advocacy at the NDLEA, on Sunday, December 22,  2024.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives foiled an attempt by ex-convict Olanrewaju Bada Akorede to export a  shipment of Rohypnol to South  Africa.
The drugs were hidden in a  shipment containing  men's clothing, shoes and  coats at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport  (MMIA). Synthesizing beautiful scenes of Ha Giang  through super quality travel videos - Flycam Nem  TV
"Olanrewaju was convicted  of a similar crime earlier this year  after his arrest on December 12, 2023, for attempting to  transport 4.90kg of  Tramadol and 2.10kg of Rohypnol to South  Africa," Babafemi  revealed.
The former prisoner had served a two-year sentence with an option of a  fine of N900,000, which he paid before  committing the offence again for the same  crime.
Businessman arrested with cocaine at Kano  airport
Operators of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano,  have arrested Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, a businessman, with 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6  kilograms.
The arrest  took place on Sunday, December 15, during the  entry screening of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan,  Ivory Coast, via Addis Ababa,  Ethiopia.
"This is the largest cocaine  seizure at Kano airport since the  establishment of the  NDLEA's MAKIA  command in 2006," Babafemi  said. Olisaka, who claimed to be involved in  import-export, underwent a physical examination, where hundreds of cocaine pellets  were discovered hidden in his  body.
Arrest of businesswoman  headed to Italy
An  Italian-based businesswoman, Cynthia Akaeen, was arrested on Wednesday, December 18, while  trying to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy. She was found with 9,190 tramadol tablets weighing 6  kilograms.
According to Babafemi, Cynthia  admitted that she was promised  1,000 euros after receiving the drug delivery in  Italy.
Other seizures  in some states
In addition to the arrests, NDLEA  agents conducted raids in  several states,  resulting in the recovery of significant  quantities of drugs:
Anambra: 418,330 tramadol and  tapentadol tablets and 8,000 bottles of codeine syrup  at a warehouse in  Onitsha. Lagos: 180,000 bottles of codeine syrup from a container from  India.
Borno: 293,000  tramadol capsules, a  pistol and 26  cartridges were seized from suspects Ishaya Wabba and Samaila  Audu.
In Maiduguri, another suspect, Modu Kolera, was arrested with  8.5 kg of cannabis, tramadol,  diazepam and other psychoactive  substances.
NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa  (retd) congratulated the officers involved in the operations, urging them to  continue their  efforts.
"We will not rest on our  laurels as we intensify our balanced approach to  efforts to reduce drug supply and  demand," Marwa said.