- Safiu Kehinde
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed an ex-convict, Nwobodo Basil, and three others following the interception of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms concealed in factory sealed sachets of cold-water starch.
Nwobodo, profiled as a notorious drug trafficker, was previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg methamphetamine in 2023.
He was again rearrested in connection to the United Kingdom-bound consignment intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
According to Babafemi, the ex-convict was arrested alongside three cargo agents.
The agents identified as Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun, and Igwe Chioma Jane were reportedly involved in the attempt to export the consignment to the UK.
They were swiftly arrested on Saturday 20th of December before further investigations unraveled the 37-year-old Nwobodo as the mastermind.
He was arrested in a follow up operation the following day at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja where he went on a date with his girlfriend.
According to the statement, the NDLEA’s criminal database revealed that Nwobodo had been arrested in May 2023 in connection with the seizure of 30.10kg methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
He was subsequently arraigned at a Federal High Court in charge number: FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N7 million along with one-month community service, with effect from 4th December 2023.
He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime.
In another successful operation on Monday 22nd of December, NDLEA operatives attached to the Ekiti State Command set ablaze tons of skunk, a strain of cannabis and wooden warehouses in Ara Forest, Ara-Ekiti where 638 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were also recovered.
On the same day, about 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg were intercepted by NDLEA operatives from three Toyota Camry vehicles during a patrol along Igara-Auchi road, Edo state.
In Cross River state, raid operations conducted last week Sunday at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and seizure of various quantities of skunk.
The suspects as profiled in the statement include Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg.