In a major victory for Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a Thailand returnee, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simon Peter, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Oguejiofor was found with 13.30kg of heroin worth over ₦3.1 billion concealed in his luggage.
He was apprehended on Monday, October 7, 2024, as he tried to smuggle the illicit drug into the country.
The NDLEA revealed the arrest in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, the 29-year-old had returned from Thailand on a Qatar Airways flight.
He had a stopover in Doha, Qatar, for two days before heading to Lagos.
However, his original destination was Accra, Ghana, where his luggage was initially routed.
The agency disclosed that Oguejiofor had contacted the airline to reroute his luggage back to Lagos.
He attempted to collect the bags as “rush luggage” to avoid scrutiny by security officials.
The NDLEA’s officers became suspicious and intercepted him at the point of exit.
Upon a thorough search of his suitcases, officers discovered six large parcels of heroin carefully hidden inside six backpacks.
Each backpack contained a significant quantity of the drug, all neatly sewn to avoid detection.
The total weight of the recovered heroin was 13.30kg.
In his statement to authorities, Oguejiofor admitted he was hired to deliver the drugs for a fee of $7,000.
He was to deliver two parcels in Lagos, and the remaining four were to be transported to Accra, Ghana.
This arrest is part of a broader effort by the NDLEA to crack down on drug trafficking in the country.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd), has repeatedly emphasized the agency’s commitment to curbing the illegal drug trade in Nigeria.
Opioid Seizures Worth ₦22.7 Billion
In a related development, the NDLEA announced the interception of large quantities of opioids worth ₦22.7 billion at three major seaports in Nigeria.
The seizures included 32.6 million tramadol pills and nearly 1.5 million bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
These illicit consignments were intercepted between October 7th and October 11th at Lekki Deep Seaport and Apapa Seaport in Lagos, as well as the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.
NDLEA operatives, working in collaboration with Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, conducted joint examinations of the containers based on prior intelligence.
The tramadol, a potent opioid often abused for its euphoric effects, had a street value of over ₦12.5 billion, while the codeine-based syrup was worth over ₦10.1 billion.
The NDLEA has been increasingly vigilant in combating the surge in opioid abuse in Nigeria.
The abuse of tramadol and codeine has become a serious public health issue, particularly among the youth.
The agency has been working to intercept shipments of these drugs and prevent them from reaching the streets.
Other Arrests and Seizures Across Nigeria
In addition to the seizures at the seaports, NDLEA operatives also made significant arrests and drug recoveries in other parts of the country.
In Onitsha, Anambra State, a 29-year-old man named Okelue Chidera was arrested with 50,000 tablets of tramadol, each containing 200mg of the powerful opioid.
The arrest took place on Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at Upper Iweka, a notorious hotspot for drug-related activities.
Tramadol, though used medically to treat pain, has become one of the most trafficked and abused drugs in Nigeria.
Its misuse has led to a rise in addiction cases and has contributed to the growing public health crisis in the country.
Also, in Edo State, NDLEA officers conducted a raid at Aviose in Owan West Local Government Area.
During the raid, the agency recovered 70 bags of cannabis weighing a total of 1,050kg.
The NDLEA arrested a suspect, 38-year-old Monday Akele, during the operation.
The agency also conducted another operation at Owan Village in Ovia North East Local Government Area, where officers seized 110kg of cannabis.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana or “Indian hemp,” is one of the most widely consumed illicit drugs in Nigeria.
Though it is illegal, it is grown in large quantities in several parts of the country, including Edo and Ondo states.
The NDLEA’s efforts to curb its cultivation, distribution, and consumption have led to numerous raids, arrests, and seizures in recent years.
Ongoing Fight Against Drug Trafficking
The recent string of arrests and seizures highlights the NDLEA’s determination to crack down on drug traffickers.
Drug trafficking has long been a major challenge in Nigeria.
The country is often used as a transit point for drugs being smuggled to other parts of the world, especially Europe and North America.
However, with improved intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration, the NDLEA has been able to significantly disrupt the activities of drug cartels.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Marwa, has stressed the importance of public support in the fight against drug trafficking.
He has urged Nigerians to provide information that could help the agency in tracking and arresting drug offenders.
Marwa has also called for stiffer penalties for drug traffickers, noting that the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking threatens the safety and future of Nigeria.
The NDLEA continues to intensify its operations across the country, focusing on intercepting illicit drugs before they reach vulnerable communities.
With the recent successes, the agency has sent a strong message to drug traffickers that Nigeria will not be a safe haven for their criminal activities.
The fight against drug trafficking is far from over, but the NDLEA remains at the forefront of this battle.