The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the seizure of 1.8 tonnes of cocaine reportedly worth “N194 billion” in Lagos state.
VANTAGE NEWS reports that the cocaine was seized in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State by the drug law enforcement agency.
NDLEA’s Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement released on Monday.
The statement described the operation led to the seizure and arrests as the “biggest singular cocaine seizure”
NDLEA revealed that the operation was carried out at a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of the state, adding that the warehouse manager and four others were arrested.
According to the statement, amongst those arrested by the NDLEA is a Jamaican identified as Kelvin Smith who is part of an international drug syndicate.
The statement reads, “Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state, and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica.
“They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the agency has been trailing since 2018.
“Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.
“They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.”
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