The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has taken apart a drug network that was functioning in Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand.
The network captured five members, and a large amount of illegal drugs was confiscated.
This information was disclosed in a statement written by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and posted on the agency’s website on Sunday.
The network members were reported to have concealed drugs in false suitcase bottoms and gas tankers, but the NDLEA operatives located them in various states.
The agency also stopped a gas tanker transporting 4,752kg of cannabis sativa and detained four suspects.
The statement stated, “Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed an international drug network with connections in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.
“No less than five members of the network were captured in a two-week intelligence-led operation in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illegal drug shipments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.
“The breaking up of the drug network began on Sunday, April 20 when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.:
Babafemi said after days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Peter was captured on Wednesday, April 24 after he arrived to collect two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand-based member of the network, Obum Michael.
The statement added, “The shipment of four parcels was hidden in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.
“Another member of the network, Chiwendu Ugbe whose South Africa-based husband, Aloytus Ugbe sent some of the shipments, was tracked to Anambra State where NDLEA officers captured her on Saturday, April 27 while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.
“Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with connections to the network, were also captured in parts of Lagos on Monday, April 29.
According to Babafemi, their arrest led to another operation in Abia State where Chinazo Osigwe was captured when she was to collect some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is also operating from South Africa.
NDLEA operatives made several important captures and seizures in various states.
On May 1, the agency’s operatives stopped a gas tanker on the Abuja-Abaji highway, finding 4,752kg of cannabis sativa hidden in the tank.
Four suspects were captured in relation to the seizure. In other operations, NDLEA operatives captured suspects with large amounts of drugs, including cannabis sativa, codeine syrup, tramadol, and cocaine.
An ex-convict, Suleiman Usman, was captured in Osun state with a stash of drugs, including cocaine and cannabis sativa.
In addition, NDLEA officers stopped a car carrying 64kg of cannabis at the Seme border in Lagos and took the driver into custody.
In Bauchi State, authorities apprehended individuals with large amounts of codeine and opioids, and another person was arrested with 33kg of cannabis in Benue State.
Likewise, an individual was apprehended with 12kg of cannabis in Bayelsa state.
