The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned travellers against assisting others with their luggages without knowing the content.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, issued the warning in a post he shared on his his X account on Sunday.

“A PhD student and another student studying abroad got into custody cos bottles of codeine syrup were found in the luggage they picked for their female friend abroad,” Babafemi wrote.

“They’d have been jailed if NDLEA Nigeria had not worked hard to ensure the owner was put on the next flight home.

“Reason why we warn you not to take any luggage you don’t know its content from anyone.”

THREE MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING GANG ARRESTED IN LAGOS

In another statement, Babafemi said operatives have arrested three drug kingpins belonging to an international trafficking cartel.

He said the agency had been on the trail of the gang members who specialise in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America for over two months.

He added the trail followed the seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin by the agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from members of the gang.

“A total of 51.90 kilograms of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal,” Babafemi said.

“The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2,300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70kg recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2kg was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.

“While the agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.

“The effort, however, paid off on Friday 19th April when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively.

“Another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Emmanuel Obinna was equally nabbed in Lagos.”

The NDLEA spokesperson added that one Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu Festus, who attempted to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight on April 18 was nabbed by operatives of the agency.

“When his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80kg were discovered concealed in his bag. In his statement, the suspect who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria on 1st April, confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid N1,200,000 upon successful delivery in Oman,” he said.

He said operatives in Adamawa state on April 20, intercepted a Peugeot car driven by one Dahiru Mohammed at Girei on his way to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450kg.

“In Bayelsa state, three suspects, including Beriakuma Vivian Chinrdu, Okpor Isaac, and Daniel Onyeachom, were arrested on April 20 at Amarata, Yenagoa, in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36kg and concealed in a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car they are travelling in,” he said.

“In Imo state, the operatives arrested one Kingsley Omeje at Amajeke, Owerri, while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup.

“In Ondo state, NDLEA officers also raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North LGA where they arrested Linus Odogwu and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilograms of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5kg of the same substance.”

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, applauded the efforts of the officers and encouraged them to intensify their war against drug trafficking.