…arrests Italy-based businessman with ’98 wraps of cocaine in Enugu
By Ayodele Popoola
The Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) says its operatives on patrol alongside the Akure-Ilesha Expressway in Ondo State have intercepted a truck conveying 1,633kg of skunk hid in baggage of rice shafts.
That is contained in an announcement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Abuja.
Babafemi mentioned two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40 and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, linked to the illicit drug have been arrested.
The NDLEA spokesperson mentioned 147kg of skunk was additionally recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest in Akure North Native Authorities space of the state throughout a raid on Monday, August 3.
Babafemi disclosed that the company’s operatives additionally arrested a 30-year previous Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril at Akanu Ibiam Worldwide Airport, Enugu, for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine.
Babafemi defined that Cyril was arrested on Sunday, throughout the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airways flight ET930.
In response to him, the suspect was subsequently positioned underneath excretion remark, throughout which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.
He mentioned investigations confirmed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, and ingested the drug at a resort in Awka, Anambra State, earlier than travelling to Enugu to board his flight to Europe.
In his assertion, Cyril mentioned he had been doing enterprise in Italy for years earlier than agreeing to site visitors the consignment for €3,500 to lift cash to relocate to Germany, the place his household relies.
In Lagos, NDLEA foiled an try by a courier agency to export 1.2kg of cocaine hid in 25 cellphone chargers to Saudi Arabia, whereas an try and ship 500g of cocaine hid in the false backside of a backpack to Italy was additionally thwarted at one other logistics firm on Monday, August 3.
The company mentioned 2.3kg of Loud, an artificial pressure of hashish, imported from the US was equally intercepted at one other transport firm in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.
Additionally in Oyo State, operatives performing on credible intelligence raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Native Authorities Space, on Monday and recovered 731.03kg of hashish. A 57-year-old suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, whereas her alleged associate, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, stays at giant.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by troopers, recovered 65 jumbo baggage of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Native Authorities Space on Wednesday, August 5.
Equally, a 31-year-old drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, was arrested throughout a raid at his Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Native Authorities Space of Abia State on Thursday, August 6. About 7kg of skunk was recovered from the operation.
In Lagos, a wished drug seller, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested on the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry on Saturday, August 8, following a three-month manhunt. NDLEA mentioned 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
On the Tincan Port Complicated in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and different safety companies, found 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg throughout the examination of a 40-foot container on Tuesday, August 4.
A suspect, Larry Nnaji was arrested in reference to the seizure.
In the meantime, NDLEA instructions and formations throughout the nation continued their Conflict Towards Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation actions in faculties, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The company mentioned its actions throughout the week included enlightenment lectures at Islamic Excessive College, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command additionally paid a WADA advocacy go to to the administration of Ignatius Ajuru College of Schooling, Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Government Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), recommended officers and males of the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan Instructions for the profitable operations.
Marwa urged them and their colleagues throughout the nation to maintain the company’s balanced method to drug management.
