By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has recorded the biggest singular cocaine seizure in its history after busting a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos where 1,855kg of the illicit drug worth over N194, 775,000,000 in street value were seized.
At least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well coordinated and intelligence led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos.
Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra State; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo State; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo State and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica.
According to the statement made available by Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that they are all members of an international drug syndicate that the anti-narcotic agency has been trailing since 2018.
The warehouse located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, was raided on Sunday, September 18, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday, September 19, 2022.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended all the officers and men of the agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration, (US-DEA).
He said that the the bust is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they will all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed
