The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has successfully intercepted the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The agency dismantled and arrested members of an organized criminal organisation that specialised in trafficking heroin across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America in a 12-day well-coordinated operation.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. . Buba Marwa, made this known on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Lagos, stating that the consignment weighed 51.90kg.
He said this is the largest seizure of heroin at the airport, revealing further that it was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines.
Marwa said there was a parallel between the seizure and the September 18, 2022, seizure of 2,139.5 kg of cocaine in a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of the state, which he described as the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of NDLEA.
He said: “NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command intercepted a suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s cargo terminal.
“The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines. Each carton was stocked with three blocks of high-grade heroin. In total, we recovered 45 blocks of the illicit substance with a total weight of 49.70kg.
“After the discovery, we were methodical and meticulous in our investigations. We started with the arrest of the freight agent, whose name is Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde.
“It turned out that he was hired for clearing services by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by one Mr. Kola resident in South Africa.”
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