NDLEA Intercepts 45 blocks of heroin worth over 10bn in cutting machines

… Says NDLEA will not rest until all fleeing members of the syndicate are brought to book

Temi Tope 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 15 cartons of heroin concealed in 2300-watt metal cutting machines. Each carton contains three blocks of high-grade heroin with a total number of 45 blocks weighing 49.70kg at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command in Lagos.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, disclosed this at a press conference held on Tuesday in Lagos.

Marwa said NDLEA operatives at the MMIA command intercepted the suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

According to him, the operation was the single largest heroin consignment at the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos State.

He said the illicit Class A drugs totaling 51.90kg were carefully packaged, well-labeled, and concealed inside cutting machines billed for delivery at the cartel’s warehouse in the Ipaja area of the state.

With a street value of £100,000 per kilo, the seized 51.90kg drugs with an estimated worth of £5,190,000 which is worth N10,365,987,000 in naira at N1,997.3/£ exchange rate.

He noted that the operatives also arrested 10 suspects in the operation that lasted nine days, declared 11 others wanted, blocks 107 bank accounts, N119million and sealed hotels and mansions in the Ago Palace Way area of Lagos.

Marwa said that there was a parallel between the seizure and the September 18, 2022, seizure of 2,139.5kg cocaine in a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of the state, which he described as the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of NDLEA.

“Our cartel members linked to the recent seizure were arrested in a follow-up operation conducted by the NDLEA operatives.

“After the discovery, we were methodical and meticulous in our investigations. We started with the arrest of the freight agent whose name is Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde. It turned out that he was hired for clearing services by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by one Mr. Kola resident in South Africa,” he added.

“Next, we conducted a follow up operation at the company’s warehouse in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos, and arrested the warehouse manager, whose name is Ajayi Imole Moses. Thereafter, we set up an ambush for the expected receiver of the consignment who was duly arrested when he showed up for collection. This receiver, whose name is Adinnu Felix Chinedu, confessed during interrogation, that he is the main distributor for a drug syndicate whose membership is spread across Nigeria.
“He admitted that he usually conveyed the consignment to a dedicated warehouse located in Ayobo. That place served as a workshop where he would dismantle the consignment and remove the drugs from the machines. Thereafter, he would wait for a list of various recipients to be forwarded to him from South Africa by the head of the criminal group.
“Our operatives did due diligence by conducting a thorough search of the warehouse which led to the recovery of 56 similar cartons of the cutting machines that were used previously as modes of concealment to ferry heroin into Nigeria. At this point, it was clear that we are dealing with a syndicate that operates in other countries. By the time, we were done exploring various leads we had, we unravelled an organised criminal network that operates in South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria and parts of Europe and America.
“This syndicate has a wide network in Nigeria because the consignments we seized were marked with several codenames, showing that they belonged to different members of this organised criminal group. Furthermore, in our follow-up operation, we uncovered from the suspect a long list of receivers of illicit drugs. In the end, we were able to identify the kingpin of the syndicate here in Nigeria and his name is Reginald Peter Chidiebere. Our investigations showed that he owns the Golden Platinum Hotel and Suite, located at 16 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace.”

NDLEA boss also said the agency had already contacted its counterpart in South Africa to get leaders of the cartel who are residents in that country and Mozambique.

He commended the synergy and support the NDLEA enjoys from other stakeholders like Customs, the military, Immigration, Police, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, NAFDAC, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the media as well as international partners, adding that the Agency won’t relent in its offensive action targeting drug barons and their networks.
“In our renewed fight against drug trafficking, our offensive action is specifically targeting drug barons to disrupt distribution networks and uproot the drug pipelines in the country. To this end, we have arrested 48 barons in three years, 15 of whom are already serving jail terms while the rest are facing trials in court. This should serve as a warning to others that there is no hiding place in Nigeria for anyone involved in the illicit drug trade.
“NDLEA is resolved to end the reign of drug barons and disconnect Nigeria from the global drug trafficking network. We have maintained a consistently strong performance, every week. With this heroin bust, we are sending a warning again to drug traffickers within and outside the county that if they fail to desist from the illicit drug trade, the long arm of the law will catch up with them” , NDLEA Boss concluded.