 have arrested a businesswoman, Okolonkwo Ebere Theresa){kind=link}
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a businesswoman, Okolonkwo Ebere Theresa, for attempting to smuggle hard drugs through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The arrest, carried out in collaboration with Aviation Security officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), took place as Ebere prepared to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha.
According to NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, officers discovered two parcels of methamphetamine hidden in her underwear during a security search.
The drugs, weighing 1.40 kilograms, were neatly concealed in a specially designed butt pad.
“She told investigators that she deals in second-hand clothing and runs a POS business in Enugu,” Babafemi revealed.
“She also confessed that she was recruited into the drug trade to make quick money.”
The agency noted that this was not the only major seizure recorded in recent days.
On September 15, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of food items at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport.
Hidden inside the goods were 40 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 2.30 kilograms, bound for Hong Kong through Turkish Airlines.
A 59-year-old suspect, identified as Umelo Ifeanyi Venatus, who attempted to ship the consignment as part of consolidated cargo, was arrested.
Similarly, another interception was made on September 18 at a courier company in Lagos.
During a routine check, officers discovered seven phone chargers stuffed with 257 grams of cocaine. The parcel was reportedly being shipped to New Zealand.
Reacting to the arrests, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to intensify the war against drug trafficking.
“These arrests and seizures underscore our commitment to dismantling criminal networks exploiting our borders,” Marwa stated.
“We are focused on preventing dangerous substances from reaching our youth and ensuring Nigeria is not seen as a hub for international drug syndicates.”
The NDLEA boss further assured that the agency would continue strengthening collaboration with local and international partners to cut off drug cartels and safeguard the country’s global image.