Crackdown on drug barons nets N2.2bn cocaine, hemp

• N2.2bn cocaine, hemp seized in joint operation

• 50 arrested, 200 others under watch

• NDLEA nabs China-bound traveller with 108 ATM cards, targets cross-border dollar smugglers

   

  
  An international crackdown on Nigerian and South African drug barons has led to the interception of cocaine, hemp and heroin worth over €10 million (over N2.2 billion).
  
  The crackdown, which ran across 22 countries, was coordinated by the International criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL). It targeted drug trafficking from Latin America to Europe via Nigeria and resulted in the seizure of nearly 170 kilogrammes of drugs as well as gold coins and stolen credit cards.
  During the European Union (EU)-funded Operation Folosa, law enforcement and customs officials conducted heightened controls on departing, transiting and arriving passengers at international airports on known smuggling routes, including via the Middle East.
  In the September 19 to 28 operation targeting Nigerian drug traffickers and their international accomplices, about 50 pesons were arrested with cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana.
  In addition to being hidden in luggage, or swallowed by couriers, drugs were also discovered concealed in shoe heels and hair, INTERPOL said in a statement.
  Results confirmed a methamphetamine trafficking route from Nigeria to South Africa, in addition to identifying an emerging modus operandi of money swallowers and a developing market for European ecstasy in Brazil. Analysis of information generated a list of some 200 suspected drug traffickers who had travelled extensively throughout Latin America.
  Checks against INTERPOL’s global databases also resulted in the identification and detention of a South African woman who was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, or international wanted persons alert, for drug trafficking offences. Spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, confirmed the crackdown in a response to an enquiry from Sunday Telegraph.
  “Some drug trafficking organisations are under investigation and at the most expedient time details of our findings shall be made public. I can confirm that some drug traffickers are being targeted and two suspected drug barons were recently apprehended,” he said.
  Meanwhile, NDLEA has arrested 34-year-old Udeh Onuora Pascal with 108 ATM debit cards belonging to five commercial banks.
  The arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The suspect was arrested while attempting to board a Qatar Airline flight to China. NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, said the suspect was arrested in connection with suspected money laundering and was immediately transferred to the agency’s Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate for investigation.
  First City Monument Bank had the highest number of cards with 58; Stanbic IBTC Bank had 23 cards; Zenith Bank had 19; Fidelity Bank had six; and Diamond Bank had two.
  The Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Mrs. Victoria Egbase, said the agency had established a prima facie case of financial crime against the suspect and that the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, had ordered the transfer of the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.
  The suspect in his statement said he was asked to take the cards to China. He said, “I am not the owner of the cards. I was told to take them to China and that somebody will collect them from me when I get there. I have a shop where I sell clothes at Onitsha main market.
  I am also a 300 level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State studying History and International Relations. I never knew it would lead to my arrest.”