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November 24, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have apprehended a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Christian Iheanacho, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine.
This is part of a string of successful anti-drug operations conducted by the agency across the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that Osuoha was intercepted on November 20, 2024, during passenger screening of an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Following months of surveillance, the suspect was placed under observation and excreted 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilograms in seven phases.
Investigations showed that Osuoha, who runs a phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, embarked on a convoluted journey from Gabon to Douala, Cameroon, then Addis Ababa, where he ingested the drugs before continuing to Enugu.
He reportedly admitted to engaging in the illicit trade to salvage his struggling business.
In another operation, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested a 42-year-old cocaine cartel leader, Ndive Maxwell Obinna, along with five associates on November 21, 2024, at Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. The raid yielded 2.412 kilograms of cocaine.
The arrested associates include Okeke Gloria Ifeoma, who acted as the group’s stash keeper, and four others: Ikechebelu Emmanuel Chibuzor, Okorie Onyedikachi, Okonkwo Nnabugo Prince, and Okafor Blessing Anita.
The agency also dismantled a trans-border drug syndicate operated by a Chinese national, Tianzhen Yen, alias Jackie. Yen, 58, was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, on November 21.
NDLEA officers intercepted a courier, Yakubu Emmanuel Mark, at Gbaji checkpoint in Lagos with 750 grams of cocaine en route to Ghana. Mark’s arrest led to the capture of Yen, who was found with 4.3 grams of cocaine, one gram of methamphetamine, two electronic weighing scales, and other items.
At Tincan Port, Lagos, NDLEA intercepted 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada. The contraband, weighing 23.25 kilograms, was discovered during a joint examination involving Customs and other agencies.
Similarly, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, operatives seized two containers of opioids on November 21. One container held 168,000 bottles of codeine syrup valued at ₦1.176 billion, while the other contained 4.5 million tramadol pills worth ₦3.15 billion, bringing the total value to ₦4.326 billion.
In Ekiti, a physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, was caught with 286 grams of cannabis strains at Ikere-Ekiti, while in Oyo State, 64 kilograms of cannabis were seized at Akinyele Motor Park.
The Edo State operatives also recovered 1,200.5 kilograms of cannabis during raids, including 463.5 kilograms in Utese forest and 507 kilograms in Owan village, leading to the arrest of suspects David Ojo Ederin and Afoje Frank.
In Kano, NDLEA officers intercepted 45 kilograms of cannabis on Zaria-Kano Road, arresting four suspects. Another 124 kilograms of cannabis were seized in Bauchi.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s operatives for their dedication to curbing drug trafficking and abuse, emphasising their balanced approach to supply reduction and demand management.
These coordinated actions, he noted, reaffirm the agency’s commitment to eradicating the drug menace in Nigeria.
