The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the interception of two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Eleko Beach in the Lekki area of Lagos on Christmas Eve.
The drugs were smuggled from Ghana via the waterways, and six foreign nationals were arrested during a midnight operation.
The suspects, who are all involved in the smuggling operation, include two Ghanaians—Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33)—and four Beninese nationals: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21). They were taken into custody by NDLEA operatives who acted on intelligence reports regarding the illegal shipment.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed in a statement on Sunday that the agency had seized the cannabis consignment and that the suspects would be undergoing further investigation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, arrested 48-year-old businessman Orizu Arthur on Sunday, December 22, while he attempted to board an Air France flight to Paris. Arthur was flagged for refusing to undergo a body scan, citing medical reasons. After further observation, he excreted 74 wraps of Class A drugs over a period of seven days.
Arthur, a resident of Lagos, claimed he owned a shop at Balogun Market, where he sells school and travel bags. He reportedly agreed to smuggle the drugs to Paris in exchange for 3,000 Euros upon successful delivery. He had flown from Lagos to Abuja in hopes of evading detection before connecting to his flight to Paris.
Additionally, Babafemi reported that in two separate operations, NDLEA operatives arrested two individuals in possession of large quantities of compressed cannabis. On Christmas Day (December 25), Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was apprehended at the Central Motor Park in Katsina with 40 parcels of cannabis weighing 35kg. Three days later, on December 28, Umar Ahmed, 47, was arrested along the Zaria-Malumfashi road in Katsina, found with 27 parcels weighing 13.5kg.
In Benin City, Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a location on December 23, arresting 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo. The raid led to the recovery of 32,490 pills of tramadol (225mg, 200mg, and 100mg), 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and various other opioids.
Babafemi emphasized the NDLEA’s ongoing commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and preventing the spread of illegal substances across Nigeria. He also urged the public to continue providing valuable information to aid in the agency’s efforts.
