NDLEA arrests ‘notorious drug dealer’, intercepts UK-bound cannabis hidden in soap packs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested one Ikenna Okoli who was allegedly in possession of 78 parcels of cannabis hidden inside soap packs.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Ikenna concealed the drugs inside packs of black soap labelled as ‘Dudu Osun’.

Babafemi said the suspected drug dealer, who was recently released on bail after a previous arrest, was caught while allegedly attempting to export drugs to the United Kingdom.

“Okoli has been on court bail following his arrest in November 2020 and subsequent arraignment before a Lagos Federal High Court for attempting to export 15.700kgs of methamphetamine to Australia,” the statement reads.

“Series of investigations into recent multiple attempts to export illicit drugs to the UK led to the arrest of the drug dealer on Tuesday, 2nd of November, when he was caught with 78 parcels of cannabis, concealed in black soap packs labelled as Dudu Osun, with a total weight of 12.250 kilograms heading to United Kingdom.

“Further investigation also revealed that Okoli is the one behind the attempt to export 7.350kgs of cannabis to the UK on Thursday, 21st of October, a consignment that was intercepted at NAHCO export shed of the MMIA.

“A separate investigation by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, of the agency, attached to courier companies have equally traced two other attempts to export 47.7kgs of cannabis to the UK through courier firms, to Okoli, after his agents arrested in the course of investigation named him as the owner of the consignments.”

Babafemi also said some traffickers were arrested with illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis, hidden inside containers of body cream, tea bags, vehicle oil and air filters.

Commenting on the arrests, Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officers for “sustaining the heat on the cartels across the country”.