5-member airport drug syndicate tracked

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a fleeing drug kingpin heading a syndicate operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, and six other members of his gang.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who revealed this to newsmen on Wednesday, said a professional methamphetamine (mkpuru mmiri) cook and a lawyer were also arrested in Owerri, Imo State, and Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, respectively.

According to him, the Lagos airport drug syndicate was behind the smuggling of 1,584,000 tablets of tramadol seized on Tuesday, March 15, by the NDLEA in collaboration with the Aviation Security (AVSEC) and customs personnel at the airport.

Babafemi said, “The seizure includes 17 cartons of 250mg tramadol branded as ‘Tamra’ weighing 669.70kg and five cartons of 225mg tramadol under the brand name ‘Royal’ with a gross weight of 217.15kg.

“The psychotropic substance, which was imported from Pakistan was smuggled through the airport tarmac using one of the vehicles of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and was intercepted at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) personnel yard.

“Two suspects: Ofijeh John Mowa, a SAHCO driver; and Nyam Gazu Alex, who is a security guard with NAHCO, were arrested in connection with the seizure.”