Nigerian authorities have intercepted a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into the country.
The consignments weighing 46.60 kilograms were concealed in her boxes.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Wimonnat on 20 February at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos during an inward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha.
She confessed to being hired by a drug cartel (name withheld) who promised to pay her $3,000 after the drug has been delivered successfully.
On 21 February, the effort of the drug syndicate to transport 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud with a total weight of 42.2 kg to London, UK, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also thwarted.
The consignments were hidden in the walls of crated cartons.
In connection to the discovered drugs, three suspects, including a freight agent and two dispatch riders, were initially arrested and one Samuel Bitris was apprehended for being the mastermind of the shipment after being traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home.
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In a similar vein, on 20 February, 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of Tamol, a brand of tramadol 225 mg in a 40 ft container, were intercepted at Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, during a joint examination by the NDLEA officers, customs service officers, and other security agencies.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, further disclosed that on 22 February, in Nasarawa State, the anti-drug agency nabbed two suspects, Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42, at Kokona/Keffi carrying 517 kg of skunk.
Also, along Sabon Asibiti Road, Kontagora, Niger State, two other suspects, Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, on 20 February were intercepted while conveying 62.7 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Corolla car.
In continuation of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) and sensitisation exercise nationwide, NDLEA underscored their efforts previously following visitation to schools, worship centres, and workplaces, among others.
Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa, commended and appreciated the officers of MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarwa Commands of the Agency for their successful operations, efforts, and approaches employed in tackling drug trafficking across the country.
