A drug trafficking ring involving a student travelling to Europe, a lawyer based in Lagos and an importer of used vehicles has been busted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The agency said it seized various amounts of illegal substances from the suspects and arrested them.
Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the NDLEA, said in a statement on Sunday that the agency apprehended Benjamin Daberechi, a 19-year-old student, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday. Daberechi was allegedly attempting to smuggle 7.2kg of methamphetamine hidden in crayfish to Europe where he was going to study.
Babafemi said Daberechi claimed he was a student heading to Cyprus for studies, but a field test of the substance in his luggage confirmed it was methamphetamine.
The statement also said the agency captured Ebikpolade Helen, a female lawyer who lived in Lekki, Lagos, who specialised in making and selling skuchies, a concoction of cannabis, opioids and black currant. Helen was reportedly captured in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State, after an earlier seizure of 5kg of cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.
Babafemi added that the agency intercepted a 116.5kg shipment of Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in bags inside a container of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada. He said the container arrived at the Tincan Port on June 14 and was labelled FCIU 8459700. He said based on intelligence, the agency demanded a 100% examination of the container which led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illegal substance stuffed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container.
The NDLEA spokesperson said the agency was working to uncover the identities of the owners and importers of the container as well as other members of the drug ring. He said the agency would not rest in its efforts to rid the country of drug trafficking and abuse.
