Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Lagos International Airport, have arrested a Thailand returnee Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter for importing 13.30 kilograms of heroin worth over N3.192 billion just as their counterparts at three seaports intercepted large consignments of opioids with a combined monetary value of N22,740,958,000. A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday said, Oguejiofor was arrested on 7th October 2024 while attempting to smuggle out of the airport the illicit drug concealed in six backpacks and then packed into two big suitcases.
The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state, had left Thailand on 3rd October on Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos while his luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination.
After arriving Lagos on the 5th October, the statement said, he contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he can pick them up as rush bags in a bit to beat security checks. However, NDLEA officers intercepted him at the point of exit.
A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all the six backpacks.
The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg.
In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels and that, he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.
eanwhile, a total of 32,607,900 pills of tramadol worth over N12,577,000,000 and 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of N10,163,958,000 have been intercepted at the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state.
Babafemi said, the combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22,740,958,000.
The illicit consignments were seized from containers watch listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between 7th and 11th October 2024.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera with 50,000 tablets of tramadol 200mg at Upper Iweka, Onitsha. Also, in Edo state.
Operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West LGA where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050kg were recovered, while a suspect Monday Akele was arrested on Friday in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East L GA where 110kg of same substance was seized.
While commending the officers and men of the Lagos International Airport, Lekki seaport, Apapa, PHPC, Anambra, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.