Paris-Bound Businessman Caught with 74 Wraps of Heroin and Cocaine
…As NDLEA Cracks Down on Drug Traffickers Nationwide
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for attempting to smuggle 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine to Paris, France.
According to a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Orizu, who was set to board Air France flight 844 on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, was intercepted at the boarding gate during the routine outward passenger clearance.
He resisted a body scan, citing health concerns, prompting NDLEA officials to place him under excretion observation. Over seven days, he excreted 74 wraps of the illicit substances.
The suspect, who owns a shop selling school and travelling bags at Lagos Island’s Balogun Market, confessed he was promised €3,000 for delivering the drugs in Paris. He travelled from Lagos to Abuja, believing he could evade detection at the airport.
In another significant operation, NDLEA’s Marine Command intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of “Ghanaian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, on Christmas Eve at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos.
Six foreign nationals, including two Ghanaians – Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33) – and four Beninese nationals, Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21), were arrested during the operation. The suspects reportedly transported the drugs from Ghana.
The NDLEA also recorded successes in Katsina State. On Christmas Day, Ibrahim Shaibu (35) was apprehended at Central Motor Park, Katsina, with 40 parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35kg.
Days later, Umar Ahmed (47) was arrested along the Zaria-Malumfashi road with 27 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 13.5kg.
In Edo State, a 21-year-old suspect, Kosisochukwu Ozigbo, was arrested on Monday, 23rd December, at New Lagos Road, Benin City.
Recovered from him were 32,490 tramadol pills of varying strengths, 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and other opioids.
In addition to enforcement, NDLEA commands nationwide intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns.
Highlights included sensitisation lectures by the Lagos State Strategic Command in collaboration with Menitos Foundation at Akoka Community, Bariga, and a similar outreach by the Adamawa State Command at the Jama’atul Nasril Islam annual leadership camp.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the efforts of operatives across the NAIA, Marine, Katsina, and Edo Commands for their exceptional work.
He urged them to sustain their offensive against drug cartels and maintain robust WADA campaigns in 2025.
