NDLEA foils attempt to smuggle cocaine, heroin to UK, Australia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized parcels of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis sativa being shipped to the UK, Northern Ireland, Australia, Maldives and New Zealand.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the agency intercepted the drugs between Saturday and Monday.

He said a trafficker was behind at least two of the parcels, adding that he had been arrested after days of surveillance by NDLEA operatives.

“Undercover narcotics agents attached to two international courier companies in Lagos made the seizures,” Babafemi said.

“The suspect, who has made useful confessions during interrogations, was tracked after 1kg of cocaine concealed in cream containers and meant for Dublin in Northern Ireland was intercepted at one of the courier firms in Lagos.

“This was also followed by the discovery of another 200 grammes of cocaine meant for London, United Kingdom in the same courier company.”

Babafemi said heroin weighing 320 grammes concealed in earrings coming from Congo and going to Australia was also seized at a different courier firm in Lagos.

He said another 390 grammes of cocaine bound for Northern Ireland was intercepted while 500 grammes of cannabis sativa concealed in automobile parts going to New Zealand was also seized.

In another seizure, he said 200 grammes of methamphetamine hidden inside an award plaque bound for New Zealand alongside 200 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in a book going to the Maldives were also intercepted.

Babafemi said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other traffickers behind the other unaccompanied illicit drugs packaged as parcels for shipment to Europe.