A drug mule identified as Imran Taofeek Olalekan, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Lagos airport.
Olalekan was intercepted at Gate C departure of Terminal 1. He was on his way to Oman with check-in luggage and a backpack.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said when Olalekan’s check-in bag and backpack were subjected to a thorough search, the NDLEA operatives discovered a false bottom that concealed drugs in the luggage and walls of the backpack.
He said, “The NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport. He was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who recruited the trafficker.
“Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport. He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivered the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola was to be paid N200,000.
“Curiously, when the two bags were completely unpacked at the NDLEA office, a charm was found in one of the bags while another one was found on the drug mule who confessed that he traveled to Ibadan, Oyo state to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.”
He further stated: “Another charm was also found on the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.”
Also, the NDLEA spokesperson said at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, its operatives intercepted 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1,072kg.
According to him, the seizure was made during a joint examination with Customs Service and other stakeholders of a container marked GAOU 6699215 coming from Montreal but originated from Toronto, Canada.
He said that the drugs packed in 46 jumbo bags were found concealed in used 2009 Lexus RX 350, 2011 Toyota Sienna, and 2009 Lexus ES 350 as well as used engines, automobile doors, tyres, and used household goods as well as big drums loaded into the container.
In the same vein, Babafemi said that in Kano, the Kano State capital, a 48-year-old suspect, Gidado Sani, who jumped the bail granted him by a Federal High Court on drug offence charges, was rearrested on Friday in the Sharada area of the state with 85 blocks of cannabis weighing 50.1kg.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives arrested another suspect identified as Wasiu Jimoh, during a raid on Ilese Awo, with 84 parcels (62kg) of cannabis sativa.
Also, NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a suspect identified as Emeka Umeh, with 506.2kg cannabis at Igbede, Ojo area of the state.
Another suspect, Victor Okeke, was arrested at Igbo Elerin, Ojo, with 142 grams of cannabis sativa and 175 litres of skuchies recovered from him.
Babafemi further stated that an attempt by 35-year-old Ifeanyi Udogwu, to smuggle 1.5kg cocaine concealed in music speakers from Lagos through Aba, Abia state to his uncle, Ifeanyi Udogwu, based in Cameroon was thwarted when NDLEA officers working in collaboration with the transport company, Young Shall Grow Motors, arrested him.
He said, “The Commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and communities.
“Some of these include WADA sensitisation lecture for commercial drivers at the Osun State Transport Management System Complex, Osogbo; youths of Assembly of God Church, Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos; and drivers at Sunny Motor Park, Aroma, Awka, Anambra state, among others.
“While commending the efforts of the MMIA, Tincan, Ogun, Kano and Lagos Commands of the Agency, for jobs well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and intensify their offensive action against drug cartels and their WADA advocacy campaign in every community nationwide.”
