NDLEA Arrests Lagos Businessman for Importing Cannabis from the US
NDLEA arrested Lagos businessman Arokodare Damil Ebenezer for importing 60 parcels of ‘Loud’ cannabis from the US, totaling 32.24 kilograms. He was apprehended while expecting a shipment at Bay Lounge, Lekki. The agency also detained other suspects involved in drug trafficking at the airport and during a raid, further indicating a rise in drug-related enforcement actions across Nigeria.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a Lagos-based businessman, for allegedly importing cannabis from the United States. The agency disclosed that Ebenezer, who owns Damillionz Takeout, was arrested on suspicion of receiving 60 parcels of a potent cannabis strain known as ‘Loud’ at Bay Lounge, Lekki.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the 43-year-old suspect was caught while awaiting a shipment of drugs. Prior to his arrest, NDLEA operatives intercepted seven large cartons containing the substance at a Lagos logistics company on March 12. The total drug seizure amounted to 32.24 kilograms after officers searched his residence and found additional cannabis and related tools.
Babafemi noted that the suspect admitted to being involved in drug trafficking since 2017. In a related incident, NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport detained Omoruyi Terry, who attempted to smuggle 1,400 tramadol pills to Italy, weighing 800 grams. This arrest occurred as Terry was about to board a Qatar Airways flight.
Additionally, a raid in Godai village, Katsina state, led to the capture of four suspects and the seizure of 684 compressed skunk blocks, amounting to 423 kilograms, along with 86,000 diazepam pills. In Edo state, NDLEA destroyed 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa in forest operations and confiscated additional amounts in Niger and Enugu states.
The NDLEA has reported an increase in drug-related arrests, including a recent case involving a dealer trying to export cocaine to Angola and busts of drug trafficking networks in Anambra and Nasarawa states.
The recent NDLEA operations highlight a significant crackdown on drug trafficking in Nigeria, with notable arrests and seizures, including the apprehension of a businessman attempting to import substantial amounts of cannabis and tramadol. The increase in drug-related arrests underscores a growing concern about illegal substances being trafficked into and out of Nigeria, prompting enhanced enforcement efforts by the agency.
Original Source: nairametrics.com
