Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Sunday said it discovered members of an organised criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
The NDLEA made this known in a press statement by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The agency said among those already arrested as members of the syndicate were a clearing and notification party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Iguda, who was in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port.
It, however, said another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Sule (alias Organiser), who is equally linked to the syndicate, is currently at large.
“Based on credible intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 per cent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa. As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on January 18 and 19, 2024, during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.
“Following a tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) to a combined team of specialised units of the agency to unravel those behind the importation of the large consignments of the illicit drugs, ongoing investigations have led to the discovery of more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7kg, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition removed from the container, MSCU 4581770 and hidden in an empty container before the 100 per cent joint examination at the Five Star terminal. As a result, two suspects: Uzairu Iguda, who is in charge of the terminal’s container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu, who is a dock worker in the terminal, have been arrested. Another suspect, Mohammed Sule (alias Organiser) now at large, is also a dock worker in the terminal. Investigations reveal that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode, to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.
