The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted the largest-ever heroin consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
This significant operation, conducted on February 12, 2024, resulted in the apprehension of members belonging to an organized criminal group engaged in heroin trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America.
NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, shared these developments during a press briefing in Lagos, emphasizing that the seizure of the 51.90kg consignment marked a historic milestone for the agency.
The concealed heroin, weighing 51.90kg, was ingeniously hidden in 15 cartons labeled as 2300-watt metal cutting machines.
Marwa underscored the parallels between this operation and the September 18, 2022, seizure of 2,139.5kg of cocaine in an Ikorodu warehouse, describing it as the largest singular cocaine seizure in NDLEA’s history.
Four individuals linked to the recent heroin seizure were promptly arrested in a follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives.
Providing further details, Marwa stated, “NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command discovered a suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.
The consignment, cleverly hidden in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, contained a total of 45 blocks of high-grade heroin, weighing 49.70kg.
Our investigations led to the arrest of the freight agent, Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde, hired by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by Mr. Kola based in South Africa.”
Stay tuned for additional updates on this significant anti-drug trafficking operation.
