The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate in high stakes intelligence led operations that lasted three weeks.

The operations led to the discovery of cocaine consignments concealed in tins of palm kernel extract.

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

Mr Babafemi said that the drugs heading to the United Kingdom were intercepted and the warehouse where the shipments were packaged raided.

He said that all the three layers of the group were unravelled leading to the arrest of the kingpin.

He also said that the breakthrough began on March 11 when NDLEA officers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command Ikeja Lagos intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine at the export shed of the airport.

“The illicit substance was meticulously hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for shipment to the UK. Two suspects handling the shipment were promptly arrested.

“To unravel the sender and the arrowhead of the drug syndicate, a well-coordinated sting operation was carried out on Thursday, April 2 leading to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, who operates under a fake identity.

“His arrest provided the link to the syndicate’s head, 52-year-old King Arinze who was flushed out of a hideout in the Isolo area of Lagos.

“He was thereafter taken to his warehouse at 11, Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo where NDLEA operatives recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment.

“Industrial tools including a sealing machine, tin openers; paint sprays; 52 grams of cannabis sativa and a pack of hand gloves were also recovered.The suspect has since confessed to personally draining the oil from the tins to conceal the cocaine,” he said.

In a separate but equally significant operation in Borno State, the NDLEA operatives on Wednesday intercepted a female drug supplier to bandit groups operating between the North-East and Chad.

Mr Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested along Gamboru-Ngala road in possession of 4.3 kilograms of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis.

Meanwhile, the pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry in Lagos state, and his wife, were on Thursday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gbaji checkpoint.

Mr Babafemi said that a search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the recovery of blocks of skunk weighing 11kg concealed in hidden parts of their vehicle.

He said, “The arrest of the couple followed the apprehension of a fake security agent at the same checkpoint on Monday while conveying 24.5kg skunk from Seme border to Lagos.”

In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Namtari road , Yola South, intercepted a trailer marked RUW 947 XA transporting 48,000 pills of tramadol.

Mr Babafemi said that the truck driver was arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the recipient.

Similarly, a 60-year-old woman was arrested with 15kg skunk in Isale Osun, Osogbo, on Wednesday.

Mr Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided the Itaogbolu forest, Akure where they recovered 351 kilograms of skunk and its seeds.

Also, about 28,600 capsules of tramadol were seized from a 66-year-old man when he was arrested at Aliade, Benue State on Wednesday.

“In Edo State, a suspect was arrested on Monday following the raid of his warehouse at Egbanke community, Orhionmwon LGA, where 1,378 kilograms of skunk were recovered.

“A notorious drug dealer was on Wednesday, April 1 arrested at Eleta area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

“Her arrest follows intelligence and surveillance on how she uses her 11-year-old daughter to deliver illicit drugs to her customers. At the time of her arrest, 45.6kg skunk was recovered from her warehouse,” he said.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Some of them include WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Okere Grammar School, Saki, Oyo State; Shasha Comprehensive High School, Alimosho, Lagos; Ma’ahad Ahmad Turaki Islamiyya, Sabon Gari, Kano State.

Also included were Ezi-Awka Community Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State, and Madrasatul Ihsan, Area One Tsafe, Zamfara State tate, among others.

Mr Babafemi said the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa  commended the officers and men of MMIA, Seme, Borno, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Edo, Adamawa and Benue commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

Mr Marwa also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

“These successful operations are a testament to the Agency’s evolving intelligence capabilities and our unwavering commitment to choking the supply lines of drug cartels.

“Whether they hide behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or complex concealment methods, we will find them ”Mr Marwa stated.

(NAN)