Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a cleaner at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Ohiagu Sunday who is alleged to be the leader of a drug syndicate.
The arrest came on the heels of the August 15 seizure of a consignment of bottles of viju and fearless energy drinks used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE through the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) export shed.
Spokesman for the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi said Sunday was apprehended last Tuesday following the arrest of an intending passenger on Air Peace flight to Dubai, UAE.
He said that the passenger named, Obinna Osita, was arrested with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of Indian hemp weighing 4.25kg.
He said the consignment was hidden in garri and crayfish.
Babafemi added that another member of the airport syndicate who worked with Ohiagu was also arrested while NDLEA operatives were trailing another suspect.
“Investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug dealer recruited Obinna, a 42-year-old native of Oyi local government area, Anambra State to traffic the drugs, who equally contracted Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner from Orlu West local government area of Imo to create access for unhindered passage of the trafficker.
“The drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new terminal of the MMIA comes on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of bottles of viju and fearless energy drinks.
“They were used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE through the Nahco export shed on Monday August 15,” he said.
Babafemi also said a freight agent had already been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, Babafemi said an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through the airport was on Wednesday, August 24, foiled during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline to Oman via Addis Ababa.
“A suspect Jonah Chukwuemeka was arrested with a total of 1,995 tramadol tablets with a gross weight of 900 grammes hidden in locust beans in his luggage.
“The bag containing the illicit substance was handed over to him at the airport by one Olagunju Abbas, who was promptly arrested,” he added.
