Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted an attempt to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The arrest occurred on Sunday, December 15, 2024, during routine screening of passengers arriving on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The suspect, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, a businessman involved in the import-export trade, was found carrying 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6 kilograms in his body after a thorough screening. This marks the largest seizure of cocaine at Kano’s airport since the establishment of the MAKIA Command in 2006.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, acknowledged the officers’ efforts. “This interception is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria. The team’s professionalism has ensured that dangerous substances like cocaine are prevented from reaching our streets,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, other operations across the country led to notable arrests and drug seizures. NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos intercepted an ex-convict, Olanrewaju Bada Akorede, attempting to export rohypnol concealed in a shipment of gari, shoes, and clothing. Akorede had previously been convicted for similar offenses.
In Lagos, an Italy-bound businesswoman, Cynthia Akaeen, was arrested on December 18, attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight with 9,190 tablets of tramadol weighing 6.00 kilograms. “She was promised 1,000 Euros upon successful delivery in Italy,” Babafemi noted in the statement.
In other raids, the NDLEA recovered over 400,000 pills of tramadol and codeine-based syrup across various states, including Borno, Anambra, and Oyo. Notably, at the Tincan Island port in Lagos, 180,000 bottles of codeine syrup were seized from a container originating from India.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA’s Chairman and CEO, acknowledged the efforts of NDLEA officers nationwide. “We will continue to intensify our efforts to reduce both drug supply and demand. Our work is far from over,” he stated.
