The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled attempts by an international drug syndicate to smuggle a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms into Lagos, Nigeria.
The consignments, valued at N4,492,800,000 in street value, were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during the post-landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on October 29, 2024.
The NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi says, the drugs were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft.
According to investigations, the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excretion by a set of couriers, and then smuggled into Nigeria through the Lagos airport.
In addition to the cocaine seizure, NDLEA operatives also blocked attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg of cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol 225mg to Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos.
Other seizures made by NDLEA operatives include: 754,000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth N525,000,000 in a targeted and watch-listed container from India at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway.
Others are, 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Fake Naira notes worth N4,353,200 in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja, 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina, consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis, at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura and 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.
A total of 30 suspects have been grilled in connection with the seizures, and investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute those involved.
The NDLEA has commended the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders in foiling the drug syndicate’s attempts to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
