Drug Consignment In Wooden Statues Intercepted By NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted the operations of an organized criminal group to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja and Tincan seaport in Lagos.

The Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said that one Ogunsina Damilare, was arrested on Friday in connection with the attempt to export 1.5 kilograms of skunk hidden in foodstuffs to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Babafemi said that over N8million bribe was offered to the NDLEA operatives at Tincan port Apapa by an importer, Cedrick Maduweke, to clear a shipment of 24.5kilograms cannabis indica to Nigeria from Montreal, Canada.

“At the Lagos airport, a freight agent Ogunsina Damilare was arrested on Friday 6th January following a bid to export 1.5 kilograms of skunk hidden in foodstuffs to Dubai, UAE through the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA, while a similar attempt to ship 11.5kgs of the same substance to the United Kingdom was frustrated when the consignment concealed in a giant wooden sculpture was intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos. Curiously, the latter emanated from Ghana with London as destination.

“At the Tincan port in Lagos, a shipment of 24.5kilograms cannabis indica to Nigeria from Montreal, Canada was intercepted by operatives while an N8million bribe offered NDLEA officers by the importer has been secured in an account for the prosecution of the case.

“While the importer, Cedrick Maduweke is still at large, one of his accomplices, Steve Isioma Adigwe has been arrested. The consignment was hidden in a used Toyota Sienna vehicle that arrived the port along with three other cars in a container marked MSMU 5082733,” the statement said.