NDLEA intercepts UK, Saudi-Bound cocaine in lipsticks,property documents

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in lipsticks and property title documents destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The illicit drugs were recovered last Thursday from cargos being prepared for shipment at a courier company in Lagos by NDLEA officers from the Directorate of […]

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in lipsticks and property title documents destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

The illicit drugs were recovered last Thursday from cargos being prepared for shipment at a courier company in Lagos by NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), attached to the logistics firm.

According to Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s spokesman, a total of 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted into 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized. Additionally, 280 grams of the same Class A drug were uncovered in a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy, C of O) being sent to Saudi Arabia.

Also, a suspected notorious drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, popularly known as ‘Warri Kinsman’, was arrested on Saturday, June 28, in Ikeja, Lagos. This followed a three-day operation by NDLEA operatives that dismantled his drug trafficking network and led to the arrest of three other suspects. Recovered from Emami’s network were 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms.

The bust of Emami’s drug ring followed credible intelligence regarding his attempt to move the shipment to the Lekki area of Lagos, from where it was to be distributed across the state and the country.

Similarly, a businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife Rosemary Uchenna, along with their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, and their family friend Okoro Elijah, have been taken into custody. Investigations revealed they operate a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos.

The couple was initially arrested on Friday, June 13, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the Ojo area of the state and subsequently transferred to NDLEA with 277.5 kg of skunk.

While they were still in custody, credible intelligence indicated that the family business was continuing from their home. This led to a raid on their residence and a packing store on Tuesday, July 1, where an additional 231 kg of the same substance was recovered.

The statement noted that the three persons arrested during the raid—their two daughtersand their family friend Okoro Elijah—were allegedly running the family business in the absence of the couple.