The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, said its operatives, in Oyo State, have arrested an Ibadan-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Dorcas, and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora, over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville, respectively.
The agency in a statement, said: “A thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of Rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.“The freight agent, Owojori Sunday, who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested.“Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.“A follow up operation on September 7, led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.
A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of checker powder custard packed together with some auto parts.
Another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Mbadugha had been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja airport on August 12, 2024, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine.“After four days under observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.710 kilograms.”
