....Arrests 2 brothers behind cocaine shipment to vietnam in custard'
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, said its operatives, in Oyo State, have arrested an Ibadan-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Dorcas, and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora, over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville, respectively.
The agency said its officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on September 6, 2024, intercepted a cargo going to the UK.
The agency in a statement, said: "A thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of Rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.
"The freight agent, Owojori Sunday, who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested.
"Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.
"A follow up operation on September 7, led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.
"In his statement, the agent Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2.411million for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier."
The agency added that its operatives at the same export shed of the Lagos airport on September 11, intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and checkers powder custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines.
"A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of checker powder custard packed together with some auto parts.
"A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos."
The statement added that "Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA on September 11, arrested two brothers: Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba who were sponsors of drug traffickers who specialise in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam.
"Their arrest followed diligent investigation of an earlier arrest of an Onitsha, Anambra State based-businessman, Ibeanusi Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282 kilograms after 12 days of excretion observation after he was arrested at the local wing of the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
"The 36-year-old Ibeanusi was arrested in the early hours of August 8, 2024, at the old domestic terminal of the Lagos airport while attempting to board the first flight out of Lagos to Abuja, where he was scheduled to join a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja about 10a.m., same day.
"Another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Mbadugha had been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja airport on August 12, 2024, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine.
"After four days under observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.710 kilograms."
