Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Sunday said it unmasked members of an organised criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

The NDLEA made this known in a press statement by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

The agency said among those already arrested as members of the syndicate were a clearing and notification party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Iguda, who was in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port.

It, however, said another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Sule (alias Organiser), who is equally linked to the syndicate, is currently at large.

“Based on credible intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 per cent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa. As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on January 18 and 19, 2024, during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.

“Following a tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) to a combined team of specialised units of the agency to unravel those behind the importation of the large consignments of the illicit drugs, ongoing investigations have led to the discovery of more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7kg, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition removed from the container, MSCU 4581770 and hidden in an empty container before the 100 per cent joint examination at the Five Star terminal. As a result, two suspects: Uzairu Iguda, who is in charge of the terminal’s container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu, who is a dock worker in the terminal, have been arrested. Another suspect, Mohammed Sule (alias Organiser) now at large, is also a dock worker in the terminal. Investigations reveal that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode, to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.

“The latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg. Investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers. They include: Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel, who are now on the agency’s wanted list.”

It noted that the NDLEA officers, on February 20, raided a drug joint under Powerline off Etete Road, GRA Benin City, Edo State, where they arrested a sales girl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs.

It said a follow-up operation the following day led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani, who is the Commander, Arewa Association Vigilantes, in the area.

“While a consignment of 179kg cannabis was recovered by operatives at Badagry Waterside, Lagos on Wednesday, February 21, a 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro, was nabbed on Thursday, February 22, at Magbon, Ogun State with 57kg cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.

“In Borno State, a 25-year-old lady, Zara Mele, was arrested with quantities of cocaine and heroin at the Baga checkpoint on Tuesday, February 20, while Usman Shuaibu, 26, and Mohammed Lawan, 22, were also nabbed with quantities of the same class A drug at Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri, the same day, respectively.

“No less than 44,820 pills of opioids being taken to Zamfara State by Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, were intercepted along Jega-Sokoto road by NDLEA officers in Kebbi state, while a farmer Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was arrested in his farm where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73kg at Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi LGA, Kaduna State,” it said.

It stated that two suspects – Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37kg were intercepted by NDLEA officers along Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway, Abuja on Monday, February 19th, while one Michael Okefi was arrested at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs.

It added that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner, Osinachi Jasper.

Noted