Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Emmanuel Okechuku Orjinze, a 48-year-old businessman, for ingesting 111 wraps of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. Orjinze, who claims to be a professional footballer in Europe, was apprehended during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 878 to Paris on May 21.
A body scan revealed Orjinze had ingested the illicit drugs, leading to his detention. Over three days in NDLEA custody, he excreted 111 pellets of cocaine weighing a total of 1.603 kilograms. Orjinze stated he is involved in the maritime sector while seeking opportunities with European football clubs.
In a simultaneous operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA officers dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four members and seizing 8 kilograms of methamphetamine and 7.60 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa. The operation began on May 21 with the arrest of an airport official carrying a backpack and a bag containing the illicit substances at Terminal 1. Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu at Ajao Estate, Lagos, and another syndicate member on May 25.
Further, at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives arrested freight agent Sonubi Mariam Abiodun on May 22 for attempting to export 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2 kilograms hidden in paint buckets filled with shea butter to the United Kingdom.
In another significant bust, NDLEA officers in Igbo Elerin, Ojo local government area, Lagos, arrested Odumegwu Obijofor on May 21 for producing and distributing skuchies, a mixture of black currant and illicit drugs. The operation led to the recovery of 2,480 litres of the New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) from his clandestine factory.
In Cross River state, Ogar Emmanuel was apprehended with 2.5 kilograms of cannabis at Ukpada Utugwan village, and 290 kilograms were seized from a warehouse belonging to another suspect, Usani Ikpi, who remains at large. Meanwhile, in Katsina state, three suspects, Sa’adu Sule (23), Mukhtar Nura (23), and Hamza Nura (18), were caught with 129 blocks of cannabis weighing 70 kilograms on May 24.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, five suspects, including Ezekiel Munda (30) and Sule Mustapha (21), were arrested during raids at Karu Abattoir, Jikwoyi, and Tora Bora hill area, resulting in the seizure of 95.01 kilograms of cannabis and various opioids on May 23.
In Edo state, physically challenged notorious drug dealer Zekere Sufianu (45) was arrested in Auchi town on May 22 with 751 grams of Loud, 178 grams of tramadol, and swinol pills.
Additionally, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, conducting sensitization lectures in schools and mosques across several states.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, FCT, Lagos, Cross River, Katsina, and Edo Commands for their recent achievements and praised all commands for intensifying their WADA advocacy efforts.
By Fikunmi Sokoya
