NDLEA intercepts N6.5bn heroin at Lagos airport, declares baron wanted

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of 26.15 kilogrammes of heroin – valued over N6.5billion – at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

The agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said the seizure was made at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) shed of the Lagos airport.

According to him, the illicit drug had arrived in Lagos in 25 parcels from South Africa through an Air Peace Airline flight on 30th June 2021.

He said it was, however, detained for screening following reasonable suspicion of the content of the consignment.

“A follow up operation was subsequently carried out the following day, 1st July when narcotic officers of the MMIA command trailed the driver and a clearing agent that were assigned to deliver the consignment.

“Investigation revealed that they were to deliver to the house of a baron, Tony Chidi Onwurolu at No. 132 Lateef Adegboyega Street, off Ago Palace Way by Grandmate bus stop Okota, Lagos.

“During the follow-up operation, Tony Chidi Onwurolu, who obviously mounted a counter-surveillance around his neighbourhood, fled his home before the arrival of the team of operatives who stormed his residence.

“They were however able to search his home and recovered a number of documents to establish his true identity,” he said.

Babafemi said that the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), had directed that the fleeing drug baron be declared wanted immediately and his details submitted to Interpol for tracking across the world.

He said Marwa has, therefore, directed the agency’s Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigations as well as the Directorate of Intelligence to deploy their networks to fast-track the arrest of Onwurolu.

Marwa said in view of the volume of heroin brought into the country by the fleeing baron, the agency would deploy all available mechanisms, locally and internationally, to track him and bring him to face charges in the law court.

“Those who have been on the run for 10 years and some for five years, we have since tracked them and are now facing charges while cooling their heels behind bars.

“The latest one will not be an exception, because he can only run but can’t hide for too long before we get him,” Marwa was quoted as saying.

In a related development, the agency also intercepted another consignment of 550 grammes of cannabis and 50grammes of Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) at the MMIA, Lagos.

The drugs, according to the NDLEA, were concealed in six jerry cans of local herbal mixtures called Gabo were seized at Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc. export shed.

The agency said the drugs were detected during outward clearance of cargo going to Dubai and one Babatunde Bakare was arrested alongside the items.

Operatives of the command also intercepted a 4.3 kilogrammes of skunk imported from Canada.

Babafemi said the package, which came on Ethiopian Airline, was concealed in nine packs of cereals.

He also disclosed that on July 6, operatives of the MMIA command conducted a follow-up operation at Gate 2, Ladipo Oluwole Street, opposite Guinness Bottling Company, Ikeja.

Babafemi said that one Animashaun Kabiru was apprehended for questioning over a bag containing bitter cola which was brought for export to the U.K.

“When the bag of bitter kola was searched, it was discovered that the bitter kola was mixed with some wraps of a substance suspected to be illicit drug.

“A total of 36 wraps of the suspected substance later tested positive for cocaine weighing 600 grammes,” he said.

Babafemi also said that an Uber driver, Mr. Lawal Rasheed, who was arrested on June 8 in connection with the seizure of a cocaine consignment, had been let off the hook.

According to him, Rasheed’s release followed his cooperation that led to the arrest of the real owner of the drug, Mr. Egbo Maduka.

He said Maduka in his statement accepted ownership of the consignment and absolved Rasheed of complicity.

The NDLEA spokesperson quoted the agency’s Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.) as commending the officers and men of the MMIA command for the series of seizures and arrests in the past weeks.

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