• Intercepts Australia-bound 20 Wraps of Cocaine

• Safiu Kehinde

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the arrest of a traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, the traditionalist, identified as Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), was arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.

Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.

In another operation operation in Lagos, officers of the NDLEA Directorate of Operations and General Investigation recovered 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos in NDLEA.

The cocaine parcels, according to Babafemi, were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.

In another development, a total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1.2 billion in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.

The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.