Funke Busari, Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted parcels of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis sativa being shipped to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Australia, Maldives and New Zealand.
This was made known by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
According to NDLEA’s Spokesperson, the parcels intercepted were well-concealed and unaccompanied.
A notorious trafficker, Sikiru Owolabi, said to be behind at least two of the parcels has been traced and arrested after days of thorough and systematic surveillance by NDLEA operatives.
Meanwhile, undercover narcotic agents attached to two international courier companies in Lagos were said to have made the seizures.
The agency said Sikiru Owolabi has made useful confessions during interrogations, even as one (1) kilogramme of cocaine concealed in cream containers was tracked.
The drug was meant for Dublin in Northern Ireland but was intercepted at one of the courier firms in Lagos.
Earlier, the discovery of another 200 grammes of cocaine meant for London, United Kingdom in the same courier company was intercepted.
Mr. Babafemi also disclosed that in another undercover operation, 320 grammes of heroin concealed in earrings coming from Congo and going to Australia was seized at a different courier firm in Lagos, just as another 390 grammes of cocaine hidden in men’s clothing and going to Northern Ireland was intercepted in the same company.
He revealed that 500 grammes of cannabis sativa concealed in automobile parts going to New Zealand was seized at one of the courier companies, 200 grammes of methamphetamine hidden inside an award plaque and going to New Zealand, with another 200 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in a book and going to Maldives, were equally intercepted in another firm.
The agency is however making further effort to arrest Owolabi’s accomplices, in order to track and arrest other traffickers behind the other unaccompanied illicit drugs packaged as parcels for shipment to Europe.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the men and officers involved in the operations to frustrate attempts by drug barons and traffickers to ship illicit drugs overseas through unaccompanied parcels.
His words,“I ask all our men and officers involved in the various overt and covert operations across the country to continue with the ongoing offensive action until we chase the criminal elements out of their illicit and damaging trade”, Gen. Marwa admonished.
