Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America.
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued Sunday said when the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport, were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms.
He said at least, three suspects: a freight agent Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager Babalola Gboyega and the receiver of the consignment Taiwo Anuoluwapo have been arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February 2024.
Babafemi noted that while Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue Ikeja and Taiwo traced to his residence at 13 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, where he was picked on Friday.
He added that in Abia, a joint raid operation between the NDLEA and men of the State Homeland Security at 23 Arochukwu street, Umuahia around 11pm on Wednesday 14th February led to the arrest of a female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, 36; her boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola, 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, 65; Dike Okpara, 43, who is herbalist to the family; Chukwudi Abel, 33, member of the family; Amarachi Paul, 18, another member of the family and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.
The spokesperson stressed that investigations revealed that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their now late father, Jonathan Nweke.
He said recovered from them as at the time of their arrest included various quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Loud, Cannabis Sativa and precursor chemical with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.
Babafemi added that attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry to deliver a consignment of 26.2grams of Loud picked in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa state on Monday 12th February was thwarted by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him.
He noted that in the same vein, 54-year-old Dada Adedara was on Wednesday 14th February arrested at Dan Bare area of Kano State with 468 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg.
Similarly, in the same day, operatives in Ogun state arrested the duo of Kafayat Junaid and Sakirat Osoanu with 13kg cannabis sativa.