On Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced that operatives had intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and clothing. The seizures took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos, with the shipments bound for the United States and the United Kingdom.
On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, officers at the SAHCOL export shed of Lagos airport seized 36 parcels of a potent cannabis strain hidden in six cartons of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, each carton containing six tins. The confiscated psychotropic substance weighed a total of 18.50 kilograms. The freight agent, Salaudeen Suliat Abiola, who presented the shipment for export to the UK, was arrested. A subsequent operation in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, August 3, led to the arrest of the sender, Bello Motunrayo Folu, at her residence in the Akobo area.
The tins of Cerelac were factory-sealed at the top but had been tampered with at the bottom to conceal the drugs, covered with loose quantities of the baby cereal to evade detection. The vigilant NDLEA officers successfully uncovered the hidden contents.
In a related operation, five separate shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances, including promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine, were intercepted at a logistics company in Lagos on Monday, July 29. The drugs, concealed in clothing and other items, were intended for export to the US and UK. The seizures included 820 grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections destined for the US and over two kilograms of opioids heading to the UK.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan port in Lagos discovered 77 packages of “Canadian Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden in the body compartments of four vehicles imported from Canada. The vehicles included a Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Toyota Corolla, and Toyota Sienna. The total weight of the seized cannabis was 38.5 kilograms. Two suspects, Salami Abiodun Sunday and Lekan Atoyebi, were detained in connection with the shipment.
Other significant arrests and seizures included the confiscation of 1,740 bottles of codeine syrup and 1,070 tablets of Molly in Mushin Ojuoye, Lagos, and 50 bags of cannabis weighing 520 kg found in the Isuada bush, Owo council area of Ondo State. In Edo State, 220 kg of cannabis was recovered from Egbeta community, Ovia North East area, and 19.200 kg was seized from a commercial bus on the Okene-Lokoja highway.
The NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, conducting sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the efforts of the officers involved in these operations and urged them to maintain their dedication.