NDLEA Arrests Lagos Businessman for Cannabis Importation from the US

The NDLEA has arrested Arokodare Damil Ebenezer in Lagos for allegedly importing 60 parcels of cannabis from the U.S. A further search recovered additional drugs, totaling 32.24 kilograms. Similar operations resulted in other arrests for tramadol smuggling and drug handling, highlighting a significant increase in drug enforcement efforts by the agency.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a businessman residing in Lagos, for allegedly importing 60 parcels of “Loud,” a highly potent cannabis strain, from the United States. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, disclosed that the 43-year-old was arrested at Bay Lounge in Lekki while waiting for this consignment.

The arrest occurred after NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted the suspect’s cargo at a logistics company in Lagos on March 12. Upon his detention, a search of his residence in Lekki recovered an additional 94 grams of the substance, along with a cannabis crusher and other drug-related items, totaling 32.24 kilograms of cannabis.

The suspect has reportedly confessed to participating in drug trafficking since 2017. In a separate operation, operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport arrested Omoruyi Terry, who attempted to smuggle 1,400 pills of tramadol weighing 800 grams into Italy. Terry, a logistics agent in Italy, was intercepted at Terminal 2 while boarding a Qatar Airways flight.

Additionally, NDLEA operatives arrested four individuals in Katsina during a raid, recovering 684 blocks of compressed skunk totaling 423 kilograms and 86,000 diazepam pills. Three males were caught repackaging pills, while a female was found with skunk in her possession. Between March 24 and 28, the NDLEA also destroyed 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa in Edo forests and seized multiple drug parcels across various states, highlighting a concerning trend of drug trafficking.

This increase in drug seizures by the NDLEA includes recent arrests related to cocaine exports and operations against trans-border drug trafficking syndicates. The agency continues to intensify its efforts to combat drug-related crimes in Nigeria.

The arrests of Arokodare Damil Ebenezer and other individuals by the NDLEA illustrate a significant crackdown on drug trafficking and smuggling activities in Nigeria. The agency’s ongoing operations reveal a rising trend of drug-related crimes, underscoring the importance of continued vigilance and enforcement against such illicit activities. As these cases unfold, the NDLEA emphasizes its commitment to maintaining public safety and combating drug trafficking.

Original Source: nairametrics.com