By Abdulrahman Abdullahi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has seized parcels of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis sativa being shipped to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Australia, Maldives and New Zealand.
A suspected trafficker, Sikiru Owolabi, allegedly behind at least two of the parcels has been traced and arrested after days of thorough and systematic surveillance by NDLEA operatives. Undercover narcotic agents attached to two international courier companies in Lagos made the seizures.
A statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, said Owolabi, has made useful confessions during interrogations.
The statement said he was tracked after kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cream containers and meant for Dublin in Northern Ireland was intercepted at one of the courier firms in Lagos.
This was also followed by the discovery of another 200 grammes of cocaine meant for London, United Kingdom in the same courier company
In another undercover operation, 320 grammes of heroin concealed in earrings coming from Congo and going to Australia were seized at a different courier firm in Lagos.
Another 390 grammes of cocaine hidden in men’s clothing and going to Northern Ireland were intercepted in the same company.
Also, 500 grammes of cannabis sativa concealed in automobile parts going to New Zealand were seized at one of the courier companies, while 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 statement said beside the arrest of Owolabi, efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other traffickers behind the other unaccompanied illicit drugs packaged as parcels for shipment to Europe.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended officers involved in the operations to frustrate attempts by drug barons and traffickers to ship illicit drugs overseas through unaccompanied parcels.
“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,” Marwa admonished.
