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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully dismantled several drug smuggling attempts involving cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids destined for international locations, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, and Qatar.
These significant operations, carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, led to the arrest of key suspects and the seizure of illicit drugs in transit.
On November 5, 2024, NDLEA officers intercepted 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg at the MMIA export shed. The drugs were en route to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight. Days later, on November 8, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, the businessman linked to the consignment, was apprehended after a well-coordinated manhunt.
In another major breakthrough on November 11, NDLEA operatives foiled an attempt by Adegbite Solomon, also known as “Obama,” to smuggle 7,800 tramadol pills, 180 rohypnol tablets, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy. Solomon concealed the opioids in food and other items but was arrested at the departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight. .
He confessed to having previously lived as a street beggar in Europe before venturing into the logistics business.
Additional seizures included the arrest of Anoke Kingsley Roomy at the Lagos airport on November 15, as he attempted to smuggle 1,100 tramadol pills to Istanbul, Turkey.
The same day, NDLEA operatives raided a hotel in Abuja’s Lugbe area, arresting Omeh Uchenna Jude and Anene Valentine Chigozie with 1.8kg of methamphetamine destined for Qatar.
In Lagos, a separate operation led to the arrest of Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi at his residence in Surulere, where 1.8kg of methamphetamine was recovered after weeks of surveillance.