In a major bust, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended five members of an international drug syndicate operating across Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand. The arrests came after a two-week intelligence operation spanning Lagos, Abia, and Anambra states.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, revealed that the syndicate’s activities were uncovered following the interception of illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to Babafemi, the unraveling of the drug cartel began on April 20th when four large suitcases arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa.
One suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter, was apprehended on April 24th while attempting to collect two suitcases containing ‘Loud,’ a synthetic strain of cannabis.
He said that the syndicate’s operations involved concealing drugs in false bottoms of suitcases, totaling 17.6 kilograms of Loud and drug candies.
Other people who were arrested were Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe in Anambra state, linked to parcels sent by her husband based in South Africa, and two others nabbed in Lagos on April 29th. The crackdown extended to Abia state, where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested while collecting drug parcels sent by her husband also operating from South Africa.
This significant operation highlights the NDLEA’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking both domestically and internationally.
