Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos
An Uber driver and two other suspected drug traffickers have been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, with different quantities of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Uber driver, Lawal Rasheed, was said to have been arrested at the SAHCO export shed of MMIA on Tuesday when he brought a consignment from his client to a freight forwarder for export to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
A statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said when the package was searched, 150grams of cocaine concealed inside two pieces of air freshener were discovered.
According to him, a follow up operation the next day led to the arrest of Egbo Maduka, at his residence on Wednesday June 9.
Babafemi said, “Investigations have so far confirmed that Egbo is behind the two seizures of 50grams of cocaine in hair attachment and another 150grams of cocaine concealed in air freshener, heading to Malabo. The seizures were made on June 4 and 8 2021 respectively.”
Also on Friday, a male passenger, Udogwu Johnson on Qatar Airlines from GRU in Brazil was arrested at D-arrival hall, MMIA, Lagos with nine wraps of cocaine that weighed 300grams in his pant.
Furthermore, a 27-year-old final-year Petroleum Engineering student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Ali Mohammed, has been arrested with 3.032kg of cannabis sativa at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos, following a tip off on Thursday June 10 2021.
Under interrogation, Ali, who hails from Nguru, Yobe State but brought up in Lagos, claimed that while on his way to the motor park in Iddo, from Obalende where he lives, he met an acquaintance, Ahmed who upon learning that he was traveling back to ATBU, Bauchi via Kano implored him (the suspect) to help deliver a travel bag containing the seized 3.032kg of cannabis sativa to one Ugo who lives in Sabon gari, Kano.
Ahmed told the suspect that he would send Ugo’s phone number to him through SMS to facilitate the delivery of the consignment when he arrives Kano.
The suspect who admitted knowing that the bag contained drugs however denied receiving or being promised any form of gratification for agreeing to take the drugs to Kano.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has commended the MMIA and Lagos State Commands of the agency for the feats while charging the officers and men of the two Commands not to rest on their oars.
He asked them to remain vigilant and intensify the ongoing offensive action against all drug cartels in their areas of responsibility.
