The Benue State Command of the NDLEA has arrested two ladies, Chioma Afam, 36, and Peace Chidinma Caleb, 22, for allegedly trafficking 296,000 tablets of illicit drugs.

Spokesman for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, made the announcement in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the duo used multiple identities and wore hijab to evade security scrutiny.

Mr Babafemi said the ladies were arrested in Benue, while trying to smuggle a total of 296,000 tablets of Diazepam and Exol-5 from Onitsha in Anambra to Gombe State.

The spokesman said that Ms Afam, who used multiple names, including Amina, Uzoamaka and Ifunanya, to cover her criminal activities was arrested on July 17 along with Ms Caleb.

Mr Babafemi said that the vehicle the ladies were travelling in from Onitsha was intercepted along the Makurdi- Aliade road while heading to Gombe State through Makurdi.

“A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of 43 kilograms of Diazepam and 33 kilograms of Exol-5, both weighing 76 kilograms with a total of 296,000 tablets packed in four large ‘Ghana must go’ bags.

“Curiously, the two inter-state drug traffickers have rebuffed efforts to take pictures with the exhibits without wearing their hijab.”

“Meanwhile, the Ondo State Command of the agency on July 18, intercepted one Olu Ameh, a commercial motorcycle rider with 465 kilograms of cannabis sativa along Ijagba-Ute road in the Ose Local Government Area of the state.’’

Mr Babafemi said that the illicit substance was said to have been bought from a man named Joseph in Ago-Akure in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state while being conveyed to the buyer, named Egbonwon at Ijagba village in Ose Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman quoted the chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, as commending operatives of the Benue and Ondo States Commands of the agency for their efforts.

“For us in NDLEA, a kilogram of illicit drugs seized by our gallant and courageous officers across the country is a kilogram less than what is available on the streets and in our communities.

“That is why we will continue to encourage all our officers and men to continue to give their best in our pursuit of the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he quoted Marwa as saying.