NDLEA Seizes Drugs Hidden in Body Cream at Lagos Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of opioids and methamphetamine concealed in body cream containers, winter jackets, and carton walls at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the agency also recovered large quantities of illicit drugs in coordinated operations across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, the federal capital territory (FCT), Taraba, and Adamawa.

Babafemi said two suspects were arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic opioids to Italy.

He said one of the suspects, 37-year old Friday Ehianuka, was intercepted on March 20 while boarding an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 2,698 pills of tramadol (225mg) concealed in containers of skin-lightening cream packed in his luggage.

Babafemi said Ehianuka, who resides in Milan, confessed he was promised payment in euros upon successful delivery of the drugs.

Another suspect, Christian Agbonhese, was arrested on March 18 at the departure hall of the airport while attempting to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan.

“A search of his luggage led to the recovery of 23,150 pills of tramadol (225mg), 4,000 tablets of tapentadol (250mg), and 1,320 pills of tramadol (100mg), all concealed in two large winter jackets,” the statement reads.

At a courier firm in Lagos, NDLEA operatives also intercepted two parcels of “Loud”, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 1kg, shipped from the United States.

The agency said it also foiled an attempt to export 158 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton to New Zealand.

Babafemi said the agency recorded multiple seizures and arrests in other parts of the country