NDLEA Intercepts N5bn Drugs at Ports, Arrests Milan-Bound Businessman

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted drug consignments worth more than N5 billion at major Nigerian seaports and arrested a businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to Italy.

The seizures were made at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos and the Onne Port in Rivers State following intelligence-led operations by the agency.

At Apapa Port, NDLEA officers recovered 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124 kilogrammes and valued at N372 million. The cannabis was concealed inside refrigerators and cartons in a container shipped from Bangkok, Thailand.

At Tin Can Island Port, operatives recovered 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg from a container originating from Montreal, Canada. The consignment, concealed in vehicles and other items, was valued at more than N3.8 billion.

Another major seizure was recorded at Onne Port, where officers recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg and 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg. The combined street value of the consignments was put at N833.2 million.

In a related operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the agency arrested 38-year-old businessman Philip Tunde, who was preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.

Tunde was arrested on September 27 at the joint screening point of Terminal 2.

According to the NDLEA, a search of his belongings led to the recovery of 16 parcels of cocaine hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes. Another 195 wraps of the substance were allegedly concealed in the railings of four travelling bags.

The recovered cocaine weighed 4.80kg and tested positive for the illicit substance.

The agency said Tunde told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine hidden in the shoes, while the consignment concealed in the bags was intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.

The NDLEA also reported several other drug arrests and seizures across the country, including the destruction of more than 20,000kg of cannabis from a farm in Osun State.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks.

He also called for continued intelligence-led operations to disrupt the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s airports, seaports and highways.