In a major crackdown, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested two individuals—Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola, a businesswoman based in Ibadan, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer—over attempts to export opioids and cocaine to London and Congo Brazzaville, respectively.
The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrests in a statement on Sunday. He revealed that officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted a consignment bound for the UK on Friday, 6th September 2024. A thorough search uncovered 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.7kg and 5,250 rohypnol tablets hidden in foodstuff cartons.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of freight agent Owojori Olanrewaju, who revealed that Adewunmi Akeem, son of 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola, had sent the consignment from Ibadan. A follow-up operation led to Mrs. Adewunmi’s arrest in Ibadan, where she runs a foodstuffs and cargo export business.
In a separate incident, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport intercepted a shipment of auto parts and custard powder destined for Congo Brazzaville, which concealed 300g of cocaine. Arinze Ora, the sender and auto parts dealer from Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, was arrested.
Further arrests included two brothers, Ikechukwu and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, alleged sponsors of drug traffickers exporting narcotics to Vietnam. Their capture followed the earlier arrest of Onitsha-based businessman Ibeanusi Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282kg after 12 days of observation.
The NDLEA also conducted multiple operations across Gombe, Kaduna, Ekiti, and Bauchi states, seizing millions of tramadol pills, cannabis, and codeine-based syrup. The agency’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their efforts and urged them to intensify the fight against drug abuse.
