The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a drug syndicate operating in Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand.
Significant amounts of illegal drugs were found, and five cartel members were taken into custody.
This was announced in a statement posted on the organization’s website on Sunday and signed by Femi Babafemi, the director of advocacy and media for the organization.
The NDLEA agents found the syndicate members in multiple states, despite reports that they had concealed drugs in gas tankers and fake suitcase bottoms.
Four suspects were taken into custody after the agency stopped a gas tanker that was transporting 4,752 kg of sativa cannabis.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand, according to a statement.
“No fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence-led operation in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.
“The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday, April 20 when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.:
Babafemi said after days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Peter was arrested on Wednesday, April 24 after he showed up to pick up two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand-based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.
Read Also:
The statement added, “The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.
“Another member of the syndicate, Chiwendu Ugbe whose South Africa-based husband, Aloytus Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra State where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday, April 27 while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.
“Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel, were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday, April 29.
According to Babafemi, their arrest led to another operation in Abia State where Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.
NDLEA operatives made several significant arrests and seizures in various states.
When agency agents stopped a gas tanker on the Abuja-Abaji highway on May 1, they found 4,752 kg of hidden cannabis sativa inside.
In connection with the seizure, four suspects were taken into custody. NDLEA agents apprehended suspects in other operations who were in possession of substantial amounts of cocaine, codeine syrup, tramadol, and cannabis sativa.
Suleiman Usman, an ex-convict, was apprehended in Osun state with a cache of drugs, which included cannabis sativa and cocaine.
Furthermore, at the Seme border in Lagos, NDLEA agents stopped a car transporting 64 kg of cannabis and detained the driver.
Operatives found suspects in Bauchi State in possession of significant amounts of codeine and opioids, and in Benue State they apprehended a suspect in possession of 33 kg of cannabis.
In the same way, a suspect carrying 12 kg of cannabis was detained.
