NDLEA arrests 2 brothers with 5kg of cocaine at Lagos Airport

Two brothers, John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to India with five kilograms of cocaine hidden in their luggage.

The arrest, which took place on Thursday, April 3, was made following actionable intelligence, according to a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were traveling to India for medical reasons. However, a thorough search of their suitcases revealed a white, powdery substance concealed within the linings of their bags. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine.

In a related operation on the same day, officers from the MMIA Strategic Command detained a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei. The suspect was found with 36 parcels of “Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, totaling 19.40 kilograms, packed inside a large travel bag.

“The suspect who claims he is a student of Computer Science at East London University, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport..

“In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria,” Babafemi said.

Elsewhere, in Abia State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 75-year-old man, Nna Nnanna Felix, with 1.6 kilograms of skunk during a raid in Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West LGA. Also, on April 1, another suspect, David Chinemerem, 21, was found in possession of 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode Road, Aba.

Meanwhile, in Kogi State, a woman identified as Ngozi Ogili, 33, was apprehended while allegedly transporting 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. She was travelling in a commercial bus when officers intercepted her along the Okene-Lokoja highway on Monday, March 31.

A subsequent follow-up operation at her delivery point in the Apo Mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of additional quantities of Loud and Colorado, two synthetic variants of cannabis.