ASHENEWS reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted hard drugs including ephedrine, skunk, and nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas.
The drugs, allegedly concealed in semovita packs and dry pepper were being shipped to South Africa and Kenya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.
A statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy said that the consignments were intercepted in Lagos by members of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO).
Babafemi said that some suspects have been arrested while their mansions were raided and their luxury vehicles seized.
The statement added that NDLEA operatives also arrested a notorious drug trafficker, Suleiman Babatunde Oba who is a member of a cartel distributing Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
“He was arrested while attempting to board a Rwanda Air flight to South Africa with two boxes loaded with ephedrine sealed in semovita packs. The recovered substance is a precursor chemical and active ingredient in the production of methamphetamine.
“In his statement, Suleiman who holds a South African passport, is married to a South African lady, and has lived there for over 20 years, identified Hakeem Babatunde Salami who equally lives in Lagos and South Africa as the head of the drug ring. A follow-up raid in the house of Salami located at 75 Wosilatu Dawodu Street, Ijesha, Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos on Monday 28th August revealed that he had fled the country on the same day Suleiman was arrested. However, a white Toyota Venza car with registration number LSR 410 HT, a Mercedes Benz SUV marked LSD 998HP, phones, and vital documents needed for further investigation were recovered from the house.”
Babafemi added that the NDLEA had earlier arrested some members of the cartel in 2021 with staff at the Lagos airport, identified as Godwin Shedrack (a.k.a Goddy) fingered as a member of the syndicate.
He further said that the agency in a bid to address the menace of drug trafficking has intensified the campaign against drug abuse in schools, worship places, and communities.
