By Chimezie Godfrey
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled a drug network that packaged illicit substances as imported Christmas cookies and snacks for distribution through social media in Lagos.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the syndicate was run by Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi, who operated from Lekki.
“The suspects imported Canadian Loud and used colourful designer sachets with cookie labels to repackage the drugs for retail distribution via a WhatsApp platform,” Babafemi said.
He disclosed that following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives raided their apartment at Ojulari Street, Ikate, Lekki, on Saturday, November 22, where 5kg of Loud and large quantities of designer packaging materials were recovered.
Babafemi also said a 38-year-old drug kingpin, Philip Ucheka, was arrested on November 27 at Ladipo, Mushin, with 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6kg, while three delivery vehicles were seized.
“At a courier firm, 100 grams of Loud concealed in a teddy bear from Thailand were intercepted, while 548 tramadol capsules hidden in Vitamin C bottles meant for the UK were also recovered,” he added.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers arrested Wasiu Kareem, 55, with large quantities of pentazocine, codeine and tramadol along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Babafemi said seven suspects were arrested in Ondo State with 3,077kg of skunk, while more seizures were made in Kogi, Kano, Bauchi, Lagos (Seme) and along the Abuja/Jos and Abuja/Kaduna highways, including the arrest of a couple with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Commending NDLEA commands nationwide, Babafemi quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) as urging officers to sustain the balanced approach of enforcement and sensitisation.
“The fight against drugs must continue with equal strength in supply reduction and demand reduction,” Marwa said.
NDLEA Uncovers Drugs Packaged as Christmas Cookies, Arrests Distributors in Lagos
