Adedapo Adesanya
Foreign exchange (forex) worth N1.15 billion has been confiscated by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
A statement from the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday disclosed that the foreign currencies were intercepted from one Mr Oguma Richard Uchenna.
He was said to have attempted to sneak out the traveller’s cheque in neatly concealed four bound hardcover books disguised as academic project literature to the United Kingdom.
The financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered on Wednesday, April 27 at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.
“A breakdown of the cheques showed they have monetary values of $287,623.31; CAD$1,456,300 and €1,297,800, the statement read.
In the same vein, operatives of the NDLEA at the Lagos airport foiled an attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle into Nigeria 10.89 kilograms of cocaine through a Qatar Airways flight.
The illicit drug was hidden in seven children’s duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil.
Meanwhile, raid operations in Kaduna, Ondo and Akwa Ibom states have led to the seizure of about 2,000kg of Tramadol, Codeine, Cannabis and Heroin. In Ondo state, 401kg of cannabis was recovered and two suspects: Mr Julius Dapo, 56 and Mr Emeka Ikebuaku, 32, were arrested at Ipele forest in the Owo area on Sunday, April 24.
On the same day, a transborder drug trafficker, Mr Chigbo Chinonye, was arrested with amphetamine weighing 2.5kg and heroin weighing 0.5kg during a stop and search operation conducted along Oron- Ibaka road on his way to Cameroon.
According to the agency, he concealed the drugs using false bottom packaging.
In Kaduna, a total of 47 cartons of suspected fake Tramadol, comprising 2,350,000 tablets, weighing 1222kg were seized in Zaria on Monday 25th April while a dealer, Chinedu Asogwa was arrested the following day April 26 along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 2919 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, measuring 291.9 litres and a gross weight of 396kg.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna Commands of the Agency for the seizures and arrests in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Mr Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.
Modupe Gbadeyanka