September 09, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized large consignments of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids at three courier firms in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency’s operatives uncovered the illicit substances concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads and hair treatment cream containers.
The drugs, weighing over 1.1 kilograms, were destined for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Cyprus.
“They were recovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) during an examination of cargoes going to Ireland on Tuesday, 3 September.
“Another consignment of 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 862 grams also hidden in hair cream containers meant for delivery in the UK was equally intercepted at the same company on Friday, 5 September.
“In the same vein, a total of 525 pills of tramadol 225mg and ecstasy (MDMA) concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads going to Cyprus were seized at another courier firm in Lagos by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, 3 September.”
NDLEA agents discovered at least 30 parcels of cocaine hidden in hair cream containers at one of the logistics companies. The agency’s swift action prevented the illegal substances from reaching their intended destinations in Europe.
“Operatives equally intercepted another consignment of tramadol 225mg buried in granulated melon that came from Cameroon and going to South Africa on Friday 6th September, ”he said.
“The NDLEA’s success in intercepting these consignments highlights the agency’s growing effectiveness in combating drug trafficking,” said a security expert. “However, the fact that such large quantities of drugs were able to reach courier firms undetected raises concerns about vulnerabilities in the system.”
In another development, no fewer than 550,000 pills of tramadol were also intercepted at the Port Harcourt International Airport, (PHIA) Port Harcourt on Monday, 2 September.
Mr Babafemi said that the tramadol pills were seized during a joint examination of a cargo that came from Delhi, India, with men of the Nigerian Customs Service.
“A suspect was already arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.
