The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 52-year-old businessman at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, for trafficking cocaine.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
According to him, the suspect, who operates boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, Anambra State, was arrested upon arrival from Bangkok, Thailand, via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 on Wednesday, following credible intelligence.
Babafemi said a body scan confirmed that the suspect had ingested and concealed illicit drugs in his stomach and private part.
“A total of 58 wraps of cocaine were immediately recovered from his underwear. He was then placed under excretion observation during which he excreted 69 pellets of cocaine in seven rounds.
This brings the total number of wraps recovered to 127, weighing 1.388 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives intercepted three consignments of illicit drugs heading to the United Kingdom at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday and Friday.
The seizures included 1.74 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in glass ceramic blocks, and another shipment containing 114 grams of pentazocine and 168 grams of tramadol injections.
A third consignment contained 48 grams of tramadol capsules concealed in a Vitamin C container.
Babafemi added that operatives also foiled attempts by criminal syndicates to ship 2.6 kilograms of skunk and 422 grams of tapentadol 250mg concealed in black soap tablets bound for Turkey.
In addition, the agency recovered 169 grams of cocaine hidden in ladies’ handbags destined for Australia, and 568 grams of “Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in herbal containers heading to the United Arab Emirates.
