By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja, said that the drugs were concealed in the false bottom of food flasks.

Babafemi said that the cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday, April 16, by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport.

He said that two cargo agents involved in the export bid were swiftly arrested.

“Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old Freight and Forwarding agent as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation,” he said.

In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on April 8, intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis.

Babafemi said that the drugs with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms was concealed in snack food packs and arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.

“Two cargo clearing agents were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state.

Babafemi said that a search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms.

He said that the truck driver was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old female suspect was arrested on Thursday when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa Local Government Area, in Cross River State.

Babafemi said that 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of the same substance recovered.

“Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of the same psychoactive substance.

“Three suspects were arrested, with two others caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds.

“Another two suspects were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at the Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday, April 17,” he said.

In another development, two suspects were arrested on Wednesday at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway in Lagos for drug trafficking.

Babafemi said that the suspects were conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana.

“The same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered,” he said.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state. Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi;

Also, Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos state, among others.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has commended the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo. (NAN)

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