The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing, destined for the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The agency’s operatives made the seizures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.
A 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, was arrested with 2,300 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed in frozen snails in her luggage while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester.
In another incident, 15 parcels of skunk were discovered hidden in 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs prepared for shipment to the DRC, leading to the arrest of a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan.
The NDLEA also seized 810 pills of bromazepam concealed in female clothes destined for the United States, 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a container at Apapa Port, and 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in a Honda Civic driven by Bello Buba, who drove from Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers for their arrests and seizures, encouraging them to sustain their “balanced approach” in the agency’s drug control efforts.
The NDLEA has been conducting sensitization campaigns across schools, workplaces, worship centres, and communities as part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme.
