41-year-old Adrienne Munju from Canada arrested at Lagos airport for importing ‘Canadian Loud,’ a powerful synthetic cannabis.
The suspect, identified as Adrienne Munju, was apprehended during the inward clearance process of passengers arriving on a KLM airline flight from Canada at Terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Thursday, 3rd October 2024. Upon a thorough examination of her three bags, customs officials discovered an alarming total of 74 parcels containing an illicit substance, with a combined weight of 35.20 kilograms, artfully concealed within two of the bags. This marked Adrienne’s first visit to Nigeria, as she had been lured into this illicit activity through an online platform, which promised her 10,000 Canadian dollars upon the successful delivery of the contraband in Lagos. In her statement, she revealed her motivations for accepting the dangerous offer, citing her pressing financial need to fund her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada. This case highlights not only the ongoing issue of drug trafficking but also the lengths to which individuals may go when faced with financial struggles, leading them to make perilous decisions that could jeopardize their future.
In a significant operation, NDLEA operatives stationed at the Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers State, have successfully intercepted a staggering quantity of illicit opioids and cough syrup, totaling Thirteen Million Two Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand (13,298,000) pills, which include various substances such as Tramadol, Tramaking Quick Action Tramadol, Tamol-X, Royal Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol. Additionally, the operatives seized Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-Three (338,253) bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, with an accumulated street value exceeding Nine Billion Seventeen Million Seven Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand Naira (N9,017,771,000). This considerable haul was recovered from three containers that had arrived from India, having been identified and targeted by the NDLEA during a thorough 100% joint examination of the cargoes, an operation conducted in collaboration with members of the Nigerian Customs and other key port stakeholders on Wednesday, October 2nd, and Thursday, October 3rd, 2024. In a related incident, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan seaport in Lagos also made a noteworthy discovery on Thursday, October 3rd, when they intercepted a total of 100 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing an alarming 50 kilograms. This particular consignment, cunningly concealed within a container that also contained four imported vehicles from Canada, was packed into 20 parcels divided among five jumbo bags, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating drug trafficking and ensuring maritime safety.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been actively intercepting illegal drug activities across Nigeria, with significant operations reported in Lagos and Taraba. In a notable incident, NDLEA operatives were able to trace a container previously cleared from the ESS Libra Bonded Terminal in Ikorodu to a warehouse in the area, where they uncovered illicit consignments hidden within an imported Toyota Sienna bus. This operation led to the arrest of a suspect, Abubakar Shuaibu Ibrahim. In Taraba, on October 3rd, officers intercepted a commercial bus marked JAL 198 YQ, which was traveling from Onitsha in Anambra state to Jalingo. Upon searching the vehicle, they found large quantities of opioids, including tramadol, Rohypnol, and codeine-based syrup, which were cleverly concealed in body compartments of the bus, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, Pako Thomas and Emmanuel Anyigor. Additionally, another suspect, Chibuzor Okafor, was apprehended in Wukari on October 2nd, in possession of 80 blocks of cannabis weighing 38kg, which were hidden in bags of Garri. In a separate operation in Lagos, on October 4th, Bolanle Ajenifuja was arrested in the Afo-Media area of Ojo, where NDLEA recovered 700 liters of “skuchies,” a dangerous mixture comprising local chapman and an assortment of illicit drugs from her. That same day, NDLEA operatives raided two cannabis farms in the Bridge Camp area, a boundary community between Edo and Ondo states, resulting in the arrest of three suspects: Ezekiel Akpele, Elijah Michael, and Goddard John. During this extensive raid, not less than 9,966.332 kg of cannabis was destroyed across over three hectares of farmland, along with the recovery of 48kg of already processed psychoactive substances, showcasing the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
With unwavering determination, the Commands and formations of the Agency nationwide have persistently engaged in their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) through various sensitization activities over the past week. These efforts have targeted a diverse range of audiences, including schools, religious institutions, workplaces, and local communities. Notable activities included WADA enlightenment lectures delivered to students and staff at Government Science Secondary School in Musawa, Katsina, as well as to students and teachers at Akanu Ibiam Memorial Seminary School in Abakaliki, Ebonyi. Additional sessions were held for the students and staff of Community High School in Ile Ogbo, Osun, and the students of Dominion Secondary School in Okon, Akwa Ibom State, among others. In recognition of the commendable achievements of the officers and personnel from MMIA, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, and Taraba Commands, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, expressed his gratitude for their successful arrests and seizures. He highlighted that their operational accomplishments, along with those of their peers across the country, reflect a well-balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, which is highly appreciated.
