NDLEA Arrests Italy-Based Man After Excreting 98 Cocaine Wraps
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, after he excreted 98 wraps of cocaine at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Cyril was arrested on August 2 during the outward clearance of passengers boarding Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930. He was reportedly travelling to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
Following his arrest, NDLEA operatives placed him under excretion observation, during which he expelled 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilogrammes.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and later travelled to Awka, Anambra State, where he allegedly ingested the cocaine at a hotel before proceeding to Enugu for his flight to Europe.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to transport the drug for €3,500.
He allegedly said he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The NDLEA also disclosed a series of other drug seizures and arrests across the country.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted 1.2kg of cocaine concealed inside 25 phone chargers and destined for Saudi Arabia at a courier company.
Another 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and reportedly headed for Italy was intercepted at a separate logistics company on August 3.
On August 4, officers also seized 2.3kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, from a shipment arriving from the United States through another logistics company in Lagos.
Along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck carrying 1,633kg of skunk to northern Nigeria. The cannabis was concealed in bags of rice shafts.
Two suspects, Buba Jamilu and Sanusi Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the seizure, while 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu forest during a separate raid.
In Oyo State, operatives raided a suspected drug warehouse at Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, recovering 731.03kg of cannabis.
A suspect, Felicia Thompson, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, recovered 604.5kg of skunk packed in 65 jumbo bags at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area.
In Abia State, 31-year-old Chibuike Charles was arrested during a raid at Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area, where 7kg of skunk was recovered.
The agency also announced the arrest of wanted drug dealer Adome Claude Sikuru at the Fibre Market drug jungle in Badagry, Lagos, on August 8, following a three-month manhunt. A total of 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
At the Tincan Port Complex in Lagos, NDLEA officers, Customs officials and other security agencies discovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies during the examination of a 40-foot container.
The products weighed 309.4kg, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.
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