NDLEA FOILS 6 COCAINE CONSIGNMENTS AT LAGOS AIRPORT, ARREST TAOFEEK, KOREDE, OTHERS

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed two major drug cartels behind the attempted smuggling of six consignments of cocaine to the United Kingdom. NDLEA operatives uncovered the hard drugs concealed in walls of stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers at the export shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, in an operation that lasted for over three weeks. NDLEA spokesman, FEMI BABAFEMI, said operatives uncovered one hundred and seventy-four parcels of cocaine, weighing thirteen-point-four-zero kilograms. BABAFEMI, who confirmed the development in a statement, said operatives also arrested five suspects, including one Alhaji HAMMED TAOFEEK ODE. He said ODE, who is a cargo agent, is alleged to be the arrowhead of the drug syndicate and mastermind of the shipment. The NDLEA spokesman said during preliminary interview, HAMMED TAOFEEK admitted ownership of the consignment, which he claimed to have bought at over One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira. FEMI BABAFEMI said operatives also arrested one SMITH DAVID KOREDE, a furniture maker in Oshodi, and recovered one-point-four kilograms of cocaine.  “The apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday 30th September at his 3 Arowojobe street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base where another consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him. “Same day, another consignment of 1.00kg cocaine with similar mode of concealment also going to the UK was also intercepted at the export shed of the airport. The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith David Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect. “Two other cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thursday 2nd October. Two suspects: Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa linked to the seizures were promptly arrested. One of the consignments contains crayfish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg cocaine while the second consignment also contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine. “The bid by another criminal gang to smuggle into Lagos 6.3 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bedsheet and hibiscus flower from Thailand was equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to some courier companies, while a joint operation between NDLEA officers and Customs Service personnel at a check point along Danbatta-Daura road, Kano, on Thursday 2nd October led to the arrest of 38-year-old Sa’adu Ali and seizure of 290, 450 pills of tramadol 250mg and pregabalin capsules. “In Lagos, a notorious drug dealer John Igbe, operating under the nickname: SammyBless to distribute illicit drugs in Lekki and Ajah axis, was on Tuesday 30th September arrested at Admiralty road, Lekki. At the time of his arrest, 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, packaged in retail plastic cups, were recovered from him. “Three other suspects: Idris Lukman; Fuad Abdulsalam and Mobolaji James were nabbed same day in Mushin area of the state, with 109kg skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup and 2kg of nitrous oxide seized from them. At the Trade Fair Complex, Alaba area of the state, 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired 225mg diclofenac were recovered.”