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NDLEA arrests South African woman with 5.75kg heroin, as man excretes 100 wraps of meth

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a South African woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, for attempting to smuggle 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Will Jessica Ann, was arrested on July 6 during the inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha.

According to Babafemi, the suspect concealed 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75 kilogrammes in two checked bags and travelled with her three-year-old son in an attempt to beat security checks and avoid thorough screening.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the woman initially denied travelling with any checked luggage.

Babafemi said operatives later established that the baggage tags attached to the two suitcases matched the claim tags on her passport.

He said the suspect subsequently admitted ownership of the bags, claiming she forgot that she had checked them in.

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According to him, the woman travelled from Cambodia through Doha to Abuja.

He added that intelligence reports indicate she is a member of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate allegedly operating along the Cambodia-South Africa route with her husband or partner, identified as Jan Coenraad De Jager.

In a separate operation, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested 48-year-old Onyechere Daniel Chinadu at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on June 28 after he arrived from Madagascar via Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

He said officers recovered 87 wraps of methamphetamine concealed inside clothing in the suspect’s backpack.

Babafemi said Chinadu told investigators he had worked as an okada (commercial motorcycle) rider in Lagos for 15 years before a friend based in Uganda recruited him into drug trafficking.

He added that the suspect confessed to swallowing an unknown number of methamphetamine pellets in Uganda before travelling to Madagascar.

According to Babafemi, Chinadu was denied entry into Madagascar by immigration authorities and was rerouted to Lagos, where he was arrested.

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He said the suspect was placed under excretion observation because he could not state the number of pellets he ingested.

Babafemi said Chinadu excreted 13 additional pellets over three days, bringing the total seizure to 100 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.715 kilogrammes.

The NDLEA spokesperson also said operatives intercepted 8,287 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 4,143.5 kilogrammes and valued at more than N10.3 billion at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.

He said the drugs were discovered in a container imported from Canada during a joint examination involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Friday.

Babafemi said the seizure followed weeks of intelligence-led tracking of the shipment from Montreal, Canada, by the agency’s Maritime Intelligence Unit in collaboration with its Apapa strategic command.

He added that NDLEA officers also foiled an attempt to export 2.5 kilogrammes of skunk concealed inside a gas compressor bound for Cyprus through a courier company in Lagos.

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Babafemi said the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, communities and workplaces in different parts of the country.

He added that Mohammed Buba Marwa, chairman and chief executive officer of the NDLEA, commended officers involved in the arrests and seizures, urging them to sustain efforts to curb drug trafficking while expanding public awareness campaigns.

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Woman jumps into Lagos lagoon, rescued by boat operators

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A yet-to-be-identified woman has been rescued after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Idumota end of the Carter Bridge in Lagos state.

The incident, which reportedly drew the attention of passersby and local boat operators, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, nearby boat operators responded and brought the woman back to safety.

video circulating on social media showed the woman, seated in a rescue boat shortly after she was brought out of the water.

The footage, shared on X by a user identified as CHUKS, also showed people gathered on the bridge expressing concern about the woman’s condition.

Some bystanders could be heard appealing to the boat operators to ensure that she received appropriate care.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the woman’s identity and condition.

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Police seize truck-load of fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two

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The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered two warehouses allegedly used for repackaging counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspected members of a syndicate involved in the interstate and cross-border distribution of fake drugs.

Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in the Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation by detectives attached to the unit.

The police boss said the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse located at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to various parts of Nigeria.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate.

According to the police commissioner, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.

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“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse, where a duly executed search warrant was carried out. During the search, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits.”

The police boss said items recovered during the operation included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole; six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other pharmaceutical products; and about 10 cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra, and other drugs.

The CP noted that more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons were used to repackage counterfeit medicines.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been involved in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated drugs for over two years.

He added that detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that the products were supplied to different parts of Nigeria, while large consignments were also destined for Lomé, Togo, indicating the existence of a transnational distribution network.

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“The investigation also suggests that the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State.

“While the production facility has not yet been located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation, and bring them to justice,” Fatai said.

The commissioner also alleged that attempts were made to compromise the investigation after the suspects were arrested.

“It is pertinent to state that since the arrest of the suspects, desperate attempts have been made through different channels to induce officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.

“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he added.

Tijani said the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file had been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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He explained that the handover was necessary because the case falls within the regulatory mandate of the agency.

The CP commended operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation while urging members of the public to provide useful information on the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal activities.

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NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden in wooden mortar, backpack bound for China, Italy

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered fresh attempts by drug syndicates to export cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar and a specially modified backpack destined for China and Italy.

This was contained in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on X on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, one of the consignments involved cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar, a local tool commonly used for pounding yam and grains, which was being shipped to China.

The agency added that another cocaine shipment destined for Italy was discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack hidden among lace materials.

He wrote, “Mortar is a traditional local wooden tool commonly used for pounding yams or grains but was used to conceal cocaine consignment heading to China in one of the latest seizures by #ndlea_nigeria officers who also discovered another shipment of cocaine going to Italy in the false bottom of a backpack hidden in lace materials.

See also  NDLEA intercepts Europe-bound drug consignments at Lagos airport

“Beware of every parcel you’re given to deliver. Remember the key word for liability is possession!”

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