Nigeria's anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it intercepted parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kilogrammes concealed in different parts of a travel bag at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

It said that the drug was brought into Nigeria on December 5, 2022, by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.

NDLEA in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Uchemadu was arrested by its operatives at the Lagos airport during inward clearance of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kg and factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.

Babafemi also disclosed that operatives of the agency arrested 16 suspected drug traffickers in various raids in Ondo, Delta, Kebbi and parts of Lagos, and equally recovered 4,448 kg of cannabis.

The statement partly reads: "At the SAHCO export shed of the airport on December 5, 2022, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kg of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE. A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril who presented the consignment for export was subsequently arrested.

"In the same vein, parcels of cannabis weighing 6.30 kg concealed in sound systems (speakers) going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO export shed of the airport were also seized on Thursday, 8th December by the operatives who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later the following day, Friday, 9th December nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew in a follow-up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos.

"At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400 kg of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday, 9th December."

It added, "Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on Saturday, 10th December led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.

"This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the Agency arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane on Monday, 5th December with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225 mg concealed in factory-packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute-Ero Jetty in Lagos.

"In Ondo state, operatives on Tuesday, 6th December stormed Sharp Corner, Ipele forest in the Owo area of the state where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju with C/S weighing 903.3 kg, while another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara at Igbotako area of the state, with 168.5 kg of the same substance; 6 kg of monkey tail and various quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

"In Kebbi state, two suspects: Austine Julius and Sale Yakubu were arrested on Sunday, 4th December along Yawuri-Kebbi Road in a loaded Dyna Truck with 117 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,070 kg concealed under bags of oranges.

"The following day, Monday, 5th December, another set of two suspects: Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade were intercepted along Koko-Kebbi Road in a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kg concealed under crates of soft drinks.

"A raid operation in Abbi town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State led to the arrest of a pregnant 30-year-old dealer, Aniekem Evelyn, with 1,161 kg of C/S recovered from her warehouse."

Babafemi said the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) applauded the officers and men of the MMIA, Seaports Operations, Ondo, Delta and Kebbi state commands for their hard work and diligence which lead to the arrests and seizures of the past week.

He said Marwa urged the operatives of the agency across other formations to intensify their efforts in ridding the country of all forms of prohibited drugs.