Authorities in Nigeria have intercepted heroin, allegedly from South Africa, destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United Kingdom (UK).
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) caught a consignment of 2,615 kilograms valued at over N6.5 billion at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
The agency reported that the illicit drug arrived Lagos in 25 parcels from South Africa through an Airpeace Airline flight on June 30.
It was, however, kept for screening following suspicion of the content of the consignment.
A follow-up operation was subsequently carried out the following day when narcotics officers of the airport command trailed the driver and a clearing agent that were assigned to deliver the consignment to the house of an alleged baron, Tony Chidi Onwurolu who reportedly fled his home.
The NDLEA has directed that the suspect be declared wanted and his details submitted to the Interpol for tracking across the world.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, the NDLEA boss and Chief Executive, said the suspect would eventually be held to account.
Marwa said “those who have been on the run for 10 years and some for five years, we have since tracked them and are now facing charges while cooling their heels behind bars.”
“The latest one won’t be an exception, because he can only run but can’t hide for too long before we get him,” he vowed.
Nigeria has become a key transit point for drugs like heroin and cocaine intended mostly for markets in European, Asian and North America.