The “single largest heroin consignment” has reportedly been confiscated by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The agency reports that during an operation that resulted in the seizure of the consignment, which weighed 51.90 kg on February 12, 2024, it also apprehended members of an organized criminal organization that specializes in trafficking heroin throughout Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America.
Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, revealed to reporter that the cargo was hidden in 15 crates of 2300-watt metal cutting equipment, claiming that the operation was the largest heroin seizure at the airport.
He pointed out similarities between the seizure and the 2,139.5 kg of cocaine found in a warehouse in the state’s Ikorodu area on September 18, 2022, which he called the largest single cocaine seizure in NDLEA history.
According to Marwa, four cartel members connected to the most recent seizure were taken into custody during a follow-up operation carried out by NDLEA agents. A suspicious shipment was discovered by NDLEA agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command when it was being stored at the airport’s cargo terminal’s SAHCO Import Shed. Concealed within fifteen containers of 2300-watt metal cutting equipment was the shipment. Three blocks of premium heroin were placed within each box. We were able to recover 45 blocks of the illegal material totaling 49.70 kg.
“We conducted our inquiries in a scientific and meticulous manner following the discovery. Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde, a freight agent, was the first person we arrested. It turned out that Mattpee Logistics, a business run by a Mr. Kola who lives in South Africa, had employed him for clearing services.”
