NDLEA Arrests India Bound Businessman With Cocaine, Seizes N3.6bn Drugs In Lagos

By Njideka Agbo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 48 year old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, with 1.55kg of cocaine allegedly concealed in the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The suspect, who deals in marble, was arrested while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India. NDLEA said he confessed to selling his business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment, which he hoped to sell for up to N100 million in India.

In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 377,600 bottles of codeine based syrup, valued at over N2.6 billion, from a warehouse in the Ago Palace area of Okota.

The agency also recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million, from the residence of an alleged drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, in Ipaja.

NDLEA said the operations formed part of its ongoing intelligence led campaign against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.

Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts aimed at disrupting both the supply and demand for illicit drugs.