Photos Trend As NDLEA Busts British Drug Ring, Intercepts N6.5b Opioids in Lagos, Rivers Ports

• The NDLEA has intercepted a massive shipment of drugs and seized 6 million opioid pills and 332,000 bottles of codeine syrup, valued at N6.5 billion, in Lagos and Rivers ports
• The operation by the anti-narcotics agency led to the arrest of two British nationals, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos
• In a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, the men were attempting to smuggle 51.10 kg of Loud cannabis

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

In a major yet successful operation, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two British nationals for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of loud, potent strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg, into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

NDLEA nabs 2 British men

The British nationals, identified as Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, were arrested alongside two Nigerians: Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami.

In a statement issued on Sunday, May 25, by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Tatendra was intercepted with the consignment upon arrival at MMIA on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, based on processed intelligence, on Thursday, May 15.

He was allowed to pass through security checks unhindered but was closely monitored by NDLEA operatives to the car park. There, the owner of the cargo, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, a British Nigerian, awaited in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) along with his relative, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole, and the vehicle’s driver, Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, to receive the courier.

NDLEA operatives swooped on them as they attempted to drive out of the airport car park, arresting them along with the drug exhibits found in the vehicle.

In his statement, Tatendra confessed to being recruited during his vacation a few weeks earlier, with a promise of 1,300 British pounds for successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.

The syndicate’s leader, Ayedipe, admitted he had arrived in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana.

N6.5billion opioids intercepted in Lagos, Rivers ports

Also, the NDLEA operatives intercepted approximately six million pills of opioids, including tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg, and carisoprodol 225mg, as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, valued at N6.5 billion.

These seizures occurred at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state, and the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.

The seizures followed intelligence reports and tracking of new trafficking routes used by drug cartels to ship illicit substances into Nigeria, prompting a watch-list of containers for thorough examination.

At the Port Harcourt ports, six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20, during a joint examination by NDLEA operatives, Nigeria Customs officials, and other security agencies.

Read more about NDLEA operations here:

• NDLEA intercepts drugs in Saudi-bound religious books
• NDLEA uncovers drugs in chocolate tins at Lagos airport

NDLEA arrests Iran-bound woman with cocaine in private part

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Iran-bound woman Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi was arrested for drug trafficking at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers state.

EFCC operatives arrested Obehi with illicit drugs in her private part, stomach, and bag during a search.

22-year-old British national, Campell Kaizra Kofi Johannes Slifer, was also arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng