Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of cannabis, locally referred to as “Ghanaian Loud,” during a midnight operation at Eleko Beach in Lekki, Lagos, on Christmas Eve.
The operation led to the arrest of six foreign nationals, two Ghanaians and four Beninese, who reportedly smuggled the drugs into Nigeria via waterways.
The suspects include Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33) from Ghana, along with Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21) from Benin.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the interception, stating, “Operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA at 2:30 am on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, 24th December, intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud at Eleko Beach in the Lekki area of Lagos.
Six foreign nationals involved in the smuggling were apprehended.”
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 48-year-old businessman Orizu Arthur at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on December 22.
He was attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris while concealing 74 wraps of Class A drugs.
Orizu had refused a body scan during passenger clearance, citing medical reasons, prompting officials to place him under excretion observation.
“Over seven days, Orizu excreted 74 wraps of the drugs,” Babafemi said, adding that the suspect, who operates a bag shop at Balogun Market, Lagos, claimed he was offered €3,000 to deliver the drugs in Paris.
Further NDLEA operations in Katsina and Edo States resulted in additional arrests and drug seizures.
In Katsina, Ibrahim Shaibu (35) was apprehended with 40 parcels of compressed cannabis weighing 35kg on Christmas Day at the Central Motor Park.
Umar Ahmed (47) was also arrested with 27 parcels of the same substance, weighing 13.5kg, along the Zaria-Malumfashi road on December 28.
In Benin City, Edo State, a raid on December 23 led to the arrest of 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo.
Recovered from the suspect were 32,490 pills of tramadol, 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and other opioids.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and appealed to the public for continued support in eradicating the menace.
