The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an Indian businessman, Gupta Kumar, and three Nigerian accomplices for drug trafficking.

The three Nigerian accomplices are Olanrewaju Ogunlana, Kayode Olushola, and Muheeb Bakare.

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

Mr Babafemi said they were arrested in connection with the seizure of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

He stated that the tramadol shipment, valued at N3.9 billion on the street, was imported from Delhi, India.

Mr Babafemi also said it was disguised as multivitamins in 114 cartons and arrived at the import shed of the Lagos airport on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Monday, September 8.

“A team of NDLEA officers who had put the consignment under surveillance, however, swooped on a clearing agent.

“Two drivers who were trying to move the shipment out of the airport in two trucks on Thursday, September 11, were also arrested.

“A follow-up operation the following day, Friday, led to the arrest of the Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, when he was trying to take delivery of the consignment,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the Terminal 2 departure gate of the airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted a passenger, Onyeganochi Ifeanyi, travelling on a Qatar Airways flight to Doha on Sunday, September 7.

Mr Babafemi said a search of his bag led to the recovery of 900 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis concealed in crayfish.

“As a first-time traveller, Onyeganochi claimed the bag was given to him to help take to Doha by a Qatar-based Nigerian, Ohadiegwu Uchenna, who actually followed him to the airport. His confession led to the arrest of Uchenna, who was still within view.

“Operatives who later conducted a search of Uchenna’s hotel room in Ajao Estate discovered an additional 200 grams of the same psychoactive substance.

“He claimed he was to return to Doha days later and pick up the bag from the unsuspecting Onyeganochi if he had succeeded in escaping security checks,” he said.

Mr Babafemi quoted the NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, and the Tincan and Lagos commands for the arrests and seizures.

(NAN)