The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant breakthroughs in its fight against illicit drug trafficking, leading to the arrest of a former international football player, a businessman, and three other individuals.
They were arrested in connection with the seizure of 22.6 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu.
Among those apprehended is Segun George Hunkarin, an ex-international footballer, arrested alongside his business associate Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu.
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Chinedu, a frequent traveler known for his Turkey-Nigeria trade, was initially detained upon his June 24 arrival at Lagos airport, where 37 wraps of cocaine (800 grams) were found concealed in his carry-on bag.
Investigations revealed Chinedu transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, picking up the luggage from another individual before heading to Nigeria.
Hunkarin, who had spent years playing football in Brazil, was tracked and arrested at the airport carpark, reportedly waiting to collect the consignment.
In his statement, Hunkarin admitted to trafficking drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia during his football career but denied bringing any into Nigeria.
On Friday, June 27, NDLEA operatives at Lagos airport also arrested Amen Okoro Godstime, a Europe-based businessman, attempting to traffic 5,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg.
The drugs were disguised as common malaria medications like Lonart, Amatem, and Aluktem, bound for Spain.
Okoro, involved in freight and logistics between Europe and Nigeria, claimed he intended to send the tramadol from France, where he resides, to Italy for retail.
Concurrently, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu on June 27, NDLEA agents intercepted Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, a 38-year-old bar attendant based in Maputo, Mozambique.
A search of his luggage uncovered 17 cardboard parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.500 kilograms and three parcels of cocaine totaling 3.050 kilograms.
Emmanuel was interdicted upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Addis Ababa, with the illicit substances concealed within bedsheets in his bags.
Also at the Enugu airport, Azu Follygan Kpodar, 54, arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was intercepted on the same Ethiopian Airlines flight.
A liquid substance found in a plastic container marked YPE in his luggage tested positive for cocaine, weighing 1.250kg.
The suspect, a toy seller, claimed he purchased the substance while shopping for his wedding in Nigeria.
Further operations saw NDLEA operatives at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, on June 24, intercept Vode Jean-Luck, a 26-year-old Beninese, attempting to smuggle 69 balls (29.5kg) of skunk from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
In Kwara State, Mary Bolanle Oladele (alias Iya Nafi), a notorious drug dealer, was arrested on June 25 during a raid on her base in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, where quantities of skunk, tramadol, and flunitrazepam were recovered.
Additionally, a 72-year-old grandmother, Christy Ejaro, was arrested on June 24 in Warri, Delta State, with several sachets of retail-sized skunk.
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Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the agency’s commands at MMIA, AIIA, Delta, Kwara, and Seme for their recent arrests and seizures.
He also lauded all commands nationwide for balancing drug supply reduction efforts with crucial drug demand reduction activities, including extensive WADA (War Against Drug Abuse) sensitization lectures delivered at various schools across the country.
