By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
A 50-year-old businessman, Iheanacho Osuoha, has been intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
He swallowed 90 wraps of cocaine prompting his arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).
Osuoha, who arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, was arrested during passenger screening. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering. Osuoha was placed under observation and later excreted 90 cocaine pellets weighing 2.019 kilograms. Investigations revealed he ingested the drugs while transiting through Addis Ababa. He admitted to the crime, citing financial difficulties in his phone accessories business in Lagos and Gabon as the motive.
Chinese National, “Jackie,” Arrested in Lagos Drug Syndicate Bust
In a separate operation, the NDLEA dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate led by a Chinese national, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen, alias Jackie. He was apprehended at a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, following the interception of 750 grams of cocaine from a commercial bus headed for Ghana.
Yen’s arrest was part of a follow-up operation after the initial seizure. A search of his hotel room uncovered additional drugs, weighing scales, and a Chinese ID card.
Major Seizures in Lagos, Rivers, and Ekiti States
In Lagos, the NDLEA arrested the head of a cocaine cartel, 42-year-old Ndive Obinna, along with five associates, recovering 2.412 kilograms of cocaine. Another operation at Tin Can Seaport intercepted 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 23.25 kilograms, concealed in imported vehicles from Canada.
At the Port Harcourt Port in Rivers State, two containers with large quantities of opioids were intercepted. The haul included 168,000 bottles of codeine syrup valued at over ₦1.1 billion and 4.5 million tramadol pills worth ₦3.15 billion, bringing the total street value to ₦4.33 billion.
Arrest of a Physically Challenged Woman in Ekiti
In Ekiti State, a 50-year-old woman with a disability, Mustapha Boja, was arrested with 286 grams of cannabis in Ikere-Ekiti. Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Oyo State recovered 64 kilograms of cannabis at Akinyele Motor Park in Ibadan.
Ongoing Efforts in Drug Enforcement
The NDLEA continues to clamp down on drug trafficking through intelligence-led operations nationwide. Babafemi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating drug syndicates, highlighting the need for increased vigilance to address the growing challenges posed by transnational drug networks.