NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs hidden inside soap at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized consignments of London-bound illicit drugs concealed inside packets of soap in Lagos.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said the parcels weighed 1.2kg and were hidden in packets of Zee black soap.

He said they were discovered during outward routine clearance of cargo at the export shed of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

He said the package also contained 23 parcels of heroin, also concealed in packets of Zee black soap, and 39 parcels of 2.35kg methamphetamine concealed in Dudu-Osun black soap.

Babafemi said another cargo was intercepted at the NAHCO shed where 7.35kgs of Indian hemp concealed inside Dudu-Osun black soap bars was intercepted on October 21.

He added that the anti-narcotics agency has arrested at least three suspects in connection with the seizures.

In a related development, Mariam Dirisu, who was arrested on October 21 for trying to smuggle drugs into the cell for a suspect in custody, was rearrested for placing orders for drugs to be delivered to her from Lagos even while still on bail for the earlier offence.

The suspect was rearrested on October 30, days after Buba Marwa, NDLEA boss, directed that she be counselled and released because of the young baby she was carrying.

Babafemi added that the agency also arrested other suspects in separate raids across the country.

“In Ondo state, no less than 1,645 kilograms of cannabis were seized in three interdictions in parts of the state,” the statement reads.

“On. Oct. 28, NDLEA operatives stormed a farm at Emure in Ondo State where 313kg of Indian hemp was seized and seven suspects, Paul Godwin; Michael Nnaji, Ezugu Lucky, Omololu Sunday, Simon Taiwo, David Udofia and M. Suleiman, were arrested.

“On Oct. 27, operatives raided the Ipele-Idoani Forest, also in Ondo State and recovered 534kg of abandoned compressed Indian hemp.

“The operatives also seized 798kg of Indian hemp from two suspects, Gbenga Falodun and Faseyitan Opeyemi, who were arrested at Ikare junction, Owo area of Ondo state.

“Also recovered from them was a white Mercedes Benz truck with Lagos State registration number and monetary exhibit of N20,000.

“Raids on three black spots in Oshodi, Ikeja and Ogba areas of Lagos State on Oct. 23 led to the arrest of a 15-year-old female SS II student of Idi-Araba Senior High School, Walaka Adams, at Oshodi, with 100 grams of Indian hemp.”