Operatives of the Strategic Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command in Lagos have thwarted attempts by a criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom.
This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the unravelling of the gang started on Sept. 26 following the seizure of cocaine weighing 2.10kg concealed in walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
He said that the apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at his 3 Arowojobe St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base.
This, he said, was where another consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.
He added that also on Tuesday, Sept. 30, another consignment of 1.00kg cocaine concealment also going to the UK was intercepted at the export shed of the airport.
“The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect,” he said.
Babafemi said that two other cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thursday, Oct. 2.
He said that two suspects: Ogunbiyi Oluseye and Popoola Olumuyiwa linked to the seizures were promptly arrested.
“One of the consignments contains crayfish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg cocaine.
“The second consignment also contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine”, he said.
