NDLEA intercepts drug consignments en route U.S., UK

NDLEA has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and clothes going to the U.S. and UK.

News Agency of Nigeria • August 4, 2024

Drug consignments

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and clothes going to the U.S. and UK, respectively.

NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives seized the consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier firm in Lagos.

He said not less than 36 parcels of a strong strain of cannabis were concealed in six cartons of tins of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, with six containers in each package.

He also said they were recovered at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed of Lagos airport on Wednesday, July 31. He added that the psychotropic substance had a total weight of 18.50 kilograms.

“A freight agent, Suliat Salaudeen, who presented the consignment for export to the UK, was promptly arrested. A follow-up operation to Ibadan, Oyo state, on Saturday August 3 led to the arrest of the sender of the cargo, Motunrayo Bello, at her No. 20 Mofoluwasho Estate, Elewuro, Akobo area of the Oyo state capital.

“The Cerelac tins were all factory-sealed at the top while they tampered with the bottom through which they put the substances. They were covered with loose quantities of the infant cereal meal to prevent discovery, an effort that ended in futility as vigilant NDLEA officers were able to foil the attempt,” he said.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives have seized five different shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances meant for export to the U.S. and UK in Lagos.

Mr Babafemi names such drugs as promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine concealed in clothes and other items.

“One of the shipments containing 820 grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was going to the United States. The remaining four parcels consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, molly and NPS were heading to the United Kingdom. They were all intercepted on Monday, July 29, at a logistics company in Lagos,” he said.

(NAN)

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