In a significant operation initiated on February 10, 2024, at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal, the NDLEA successfully confiscated a staggering 51.90 kilograms of heroin linked to a notorious drug cartel.
Concealed within 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, the illicit substance, totaling 49.70kg, was discovered, with an additional 2.2kg seized from the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo, Lagos.
After a two-month pursuit, NDLEA operatives finally apprehended three members of the criminal organization, known for their extensive drug trafficking network spanning Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America.
In a related incident, NDLEA officers stopped an attempt by suspect Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu Festus to smuggle a drug consignment through Terminal 2 of Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman, via an Ethiopian airline flight on April 18.
Upon inspection of Festus’s luggage, authorities discovered 20 large parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80kg concealed within.
These developments follow the recent seizure of the largest-ever heroin consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement:
“while the agency had secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.
The effort however paid off on Friday 19th April when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra State respectively. Another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Emmanuel Obinna was equally nabbed in Lagos.”
