A 60-year-old grandmother identified as Mrs. Igbinosun Sandra Esther has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an interdiction operation in Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was learnt that Mrs Esther was arrested in a follow-up operation following the seizure of 5.5kg Loud variant of cannabis imported into the country from South Africa.
The consignment, which she claimed was sent to her by her daughter was said to have been concealed in two giant Speakers as part of a consolidated cargo that arrived at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos on board an Airpeace Airline flight.
This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday, by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, noting that the agency also arrested others across five states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the past week.
He said a total of 5,527.15 kilograms of methamphetamine, cannabis sativa, 132,090 tablets of tramadol and 2,000 bottles of codeine were recovered during the raid.
He said; “NDLEA operatives also on Saturday 26th November intercepted 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside custard tins packed among cosmetics and foodstuffs going to Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.
“A cargo agent, Salako Omolara Fausat who brought the bag containing the illicit drug to the airport and an intending passenger to Brazil, Anyanwu Christian who was to travel with the consignment were promptly arrested.
“Another attempt by a freight agent, Adebisi Aina Hafsat to export 3,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts to Banjul, Gambia through the NAHCO export shed was equally thwarted by operatives who seized the consignment and arrested her on Monday 28th Nov, while a follow-up operation to Ebute-Meta area of Lagos the following day, Tuesday 29th Nov led to the arrest of the actual owner, Afam Chibuke Stanley, who is a spare parts seller.
“This was followed by the seizure of 100,000 tablets of Royal brand of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 68.90 kilograms imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Ethiopian Airlines at the SAHCO import shed,” he added.
