By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businesswoman for allegedly concealing illicit drugs in her underwear while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, Qatar.

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that the suspect was arrested on Sept. 14 by Aviation Security Officers of FAAN in collaboration with NDLEA operatives attached to the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

Babafemi said that after a thorough search, two big parcels of white crystalline substance was recovered from her butt pad underwear, which later tested positive to methamphetamine with a gross weight of 1.40 kg.

“During a preliminary interview with Ebere, she claimed she trades in used clothing and also operates a POS business in Enugu, where she was recruited into the illicit drug business,” he said.

He said that at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, (NAHCO) export shed of the Lagos airport, operatives also intercepted a consignment of food items used to conceal 40 wraps of methamphetamine with a total weight of 2.30 kg heading to Hong Kong via Turkish Airlines.

He said that a 59-year-old suspect who presented the consignment as part of a consolidated cargo, had been taken into custody.

Also, another consignment of illicit drug packaged for Europe was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos on Sept. 18.

“During a thorough examination of the shipment, seven pieces of phone chargers going to New Zealand were found to contain 257 grams of cocaine,”he said.

In Edo, two cannabis farms located at Atororo forest in Owan West Local Government Area were destroyed by NDLEA officers.

Babafemi said that the farm with an estimated yield of 11,330.0625kg had 11 bags of processed skunk and seeds weighing 148kg were recovered with three suspects arrested.

Reacting, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa said that the arrests and seizures represented a significant milestone in the determined effort to dismantle drug trafficking organisations operating in Nigeria and around the world.

Marwa said the agency would prioritise tackling those who target the productive youth population with illicit substances, until they were no longer able to harm communities or tarnish the country’s image on the global stage.

He commended the officers and men in various commands for their various successful operations.

Marwa enjoined them to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency. (NAN)