The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested the suspected owner of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, after the incident caused a stir at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday. The NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Sunday that the suspect was apprehended on Friday.
A viral video suggested that the man being tortured on his knees while being slapped by another person on Tuesday was an employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. The individual was allegedly being tortured by a passenger for attempting to use him to traffic drugs to Accra, Ghana.
FAAN confirmed on Wednesday that the man was not their employee and stated that he worked for an aviation services company operating within the airport premises. The agency clarified that the passenger resorted to slapping the officer after he had raised an alarm alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.
Babafemi mentioned in a statement on Sunday that FAAN transferred the suspect and the exhibit to the NDLEA on Thursday. Initial findings by the NDLEA revealed that the parcel contained 50 pills of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements.
“A follow-up operation by the NDLEA led to the arrest of the suspect upon his return from Ghana on Friday. He has confirmed ownership of the drug,’’ Babafemi stated.
The NDLEA also reported intercepting large consignments of cocaine, colorado, and cannabis concealed in containerized household items and vehicles imported from Durban, South Africa, and Canada at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos. These illicit drugs, along with arms, ammunition, and other military effects, were seized during a joint examination of the containers by NDLEA officers, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.
The agency deployed sniffer dogs to help identify locations and bags used in concealing the illicit items. Items recovered from the containers included parcels of cocaine and colorado, pistols, ammunition, and military personnel effects. The agency also made several other arrests in connection with trafficking of tramadol, cannabis, and opioids in Kano, Lagos, as well as other states.
