NDLEA Intercepts 1.9 Million Tablets Of Tramadol, Codeine At Lagos Airport
EMERGENCY DIGEST- The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized over 1.9 million tablets of Tramadol and Codeine imported into the country from Pakistan and United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
Of the total seizures, 40 cartons of Co-Codamol, a brand of paracetamol with Codeine, which is classified as Opioid, were seized from a freight agent, Eraikhueme Ehis. The seizure made on March 10 translates to 349, 800 tablets weighing 336kg.
The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement that, the consignment came from London, UK as a consolidated cargo through the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport. The consolidated cargo was declared as personal effects but was discovered to contain some medicaments.
In the same vein, he said, no less than 1, 584,000 tablets of Tramadol were recovered on 15th March by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Customs service personnel at the airport. The seizure includes 17 cartons of 250mg Tramadol branded as “Tamra” weighing 669.70kg and five cartons of 225mg Tramadol under the brand name “Royal” with a gross weight of 217.15kg.
Read Also:
The psychotropic substance, which was imported into the country from Pakistan was smuggled through the airport tarmac using one of the vehicles of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and was intercepted at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Personnel Yard.
Two suspects: Ofijeh John Mova, a SAHCO driver and Nyam Gazu Alex who is a security guard with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) have so far been arrested in connection with the seizure.
On March 14, Babafemi said, a total of 2,160 tablets of Co-codamol weighing 1.95kg and 240 tablets of Tramadol were also intercepted in a consolidated cargo from the UK at the SAHCO import shed of the airport. Follow up operations led to the arrest of the importer of the consignment, Omonijo Temidayo the following day.
Similarly, follow up operations have also led to the arrest of Hajiya Mariam Saliu in Edo State on 14th March after investigations uncovered her as the brain behind the attempt to export 1.55kg cannabis to Dubai through the Lagos airport on 5th March.
The NDLEA spokesman said operatives of the Agency also arrested one of the kingpins behind the attempt to smuggle 11.93 kilograms of Cocaine to Accra, Ghana through the Seme land border, Lagos. The 50-year-old suspect, Oyewunmi Ademola Ahmed was arrested on Tuesday 15th March at Mile 2 area of Lagos after a series of follow up operations following the arrest of a driver, Osagie Anthony with the 11.913kg cocaine at Gbaji, Seme-Badagry expressway on January 23.
In Kwara, a drug dealer, Hope John, was arrested on Saturday at the Goodness area of Offa with different quantities of cannabis, methamphetamine, designer drug and cocaine.
