The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two individuals in connection with separate attempts to export illegal drugs to the United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville. Adebola Adewunmi, a businesswoman from Ibadan, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer, were both arrested following the interception of their consignments containing opioids and cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the first arrest occurred on Friday, September 6, when officers at the MMIA export shed discovered 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol concealed in cartons of foodstuffs.
The consignment, which was destined for the UK, was presented for export by a freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju, who was immediately detained.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Adebola Adewunmi, sent the consignment from Ibadan to deliver to the agent,” Babafemi revealed.
He further explained that a follow-up operation on Saturday, September 7, led to Mrs. Adewunmi’s arrest in Ibadan, where she runs a business dealing in foodstuffs and cargo exports.
In his statement, Owojori confessed to working for Adewunmi, stating that he had received N2.4 million for the job and N2.1 million for a similar consignment earlier. The NDLEA continues to investigate the case for potential further connections.
In a separate incident, NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of auto spare parts and checkers powder custard bound for Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines on September 11. A diligent search revealed 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of checkers powder.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the consignment’s sender, Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer operating out of the Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA’s special operations unit arrested two brothers, Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, on Tuesday, September 10, for their alleged role in sponsoring drug traffickers who specialize in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam.
Their arrests followed the earlier apprehension of Onitsha-based businessman Ibeanusi Nosike, who had excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282kg after being placed under observation by NDLEA officers.
Nosike was arrested on August 8 at the Lagos airport as he prepared to board a domestic flight to Abuja, where he intended to catch a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam.
Similarly, another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Mbadugha, was arrested on August 12 during the outward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight at Abuja airport after testing positive for cocaine ingestion. Mbadugha excreted 88 wraps of the drug weighing 1.710kg over four days.
When arrested, the Ikeabba brothers were found in possession of 87 wraps of cocaine dummies used to train drug swallowers, further highlighting the organized nature of their drug trafficking operations. Investigations are ongoing.
