NDLEA arrests five members of int’l drug syndicate, seizes consignments
By • Intercepts 4,752kg cannabis concealed in gas tanker in Abuja • Nabs ex- convict with assorted illicit drugs in Osun
OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand. Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said five members of the cartel were arrested in the two- week intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
According to him, the un
raveling of the drug cartel started on Sunday, April 20, when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannes
Osigwe burg, South Africa.
After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday, April 24, after he
showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum
Michael.
The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilogrammes of Loud and drug candies.
Another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chinwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africabased husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments to, was traced to Anambra State where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday, April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.
Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday, April 29. Their arrest led to another operation in Abia State where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.