Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 40-year-old businessman, Ejike Chibuke, with 1.45 kilogrammes of cocaine at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in the suspect’s luggage while he attempted to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight number 950 to Vietnam via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from the NAIA.

He said the suspect was arrested at the Abuja airport on Saturday, March 2, after NDLEA officers subjected him to a thorough search.

Mr Babafemi also said that it was in the process the illicit substance was discovered concealed, factory-fitted, in his bag.

“In his statement, the suspect claimed he was on a business trip to Vietnam,“ he said.

Meanwhile, operatives of a special unit of the agency on Friday, March 1, swooped on members of a syndicate that deals in methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in their hideouts in parts of Lagos.

Mr Babafemi said the operatives assigned for the operation raided the home of Esimone Amachukwu at 14 Arochukwu Street, Ejigbo.

This, he said, was where 10.012 kilogrammes of methamphetamine was found in the possession of his associate, 40-year-old Evelyn Nneka.

“Esimone is currently at large.

“While the Ejigbo operation was going on, another set of officers were simultaneously busy in the residence of another syndicate member, 45-year-old Ebele Iwuegbunam.

“The suspect located at Plot 1604 Close D, 4th Avenue, Festac town, Lagos was arrested, and 429.5 grammes of cocaine and seven kilogrammes of heroin were recovered from him,” he said.

(NAN)