NDLEA intercepts drugs hidden in baby food tins at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted 36 parcels of cannabis concealed in baby food tins at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the “strong strain” of cannabis were concealed in six cartons of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food.

He said the consignment weighing 18.50kg, were recovered at the Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) export shed of Lagos airport on July 31.

“A freight agent, Salaudeen Suliat Abiola who presented the consignment for export to the UK was promptly arrested while a follow up operation to Ibadan, Oyo state on Saturday 3rd August led to the arrest of the sender of the cargo, Bello Motunrayo Folu at her No. 20 Mofoluwasho Estate, Elewuro, Akobo area of the Oyo state capital,” the statement reads.

“The Cerelac tins were all factory-sealed at the top while they tampered with the bottom through which they put the substances covered with loose quantities of the infant cereal meal to prevent discovery, an effort that ended in futility as vigilant NDLEA officers were able to foil the attempt.”

Babafemi said the agency also intercepted five different shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances for export to the US and UK.

The substances include promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine.

“While one of the shipments containing 820grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was going to the United States, the remaining four parcels consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, molly and NPS were heading to the United Kingdom,” the statement reads.

“They were all intercepted on Monday 29th July at a logistics company in Lagos.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan port in Lagos on Friday 2nd August recovered 77 packages of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis from the body compartments of four vehicles: Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Sienna imported from Canada during a joint examination of some containers with men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders.

“The seized consignments have a total weight of 38.5 kilograms while two suspects: Salami Abiodun Sunday, 34 and Lekan Atoyebi, 33, assigned to clear the shipments have been taken into custody.”