NDLEA arrests Lagos lawyer, student traveling to Europe with hard drug

Benjamin Daberechi, a 19-year-old student, was detained by NDLEA agents for attempting to transport 7.2 kg of methamphetamine wrapped in crayfish to Europe, where he was going to study.

According to reports, Daberechi was detained on Wednesday during the Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624’s outbound passenger clearing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The suspect told the operatives he was going to Cyprus for school, and added that a white substance discovered in his suitcase had tested positive for methamphetamine, according to a statement made on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The statement read, “Operatives of the NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja arrested a 19-year-old student, Benjamin Daberechi, for attempting to export 7.2Kg of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

“While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

“A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.”

Additionally, according to Babafemi, a female lawyer named Ebikpolade Helen was detained when agents found 12 bottles of skuchies and 5 kg of marijuana in her Lekki flat.

He said, “Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids, and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.”

Babafemi added that the operatives intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado hidden in motor spare parts.

He said, “In the same vein, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday, July 11, intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

“Based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100% examination of the container which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14. A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, and other stakeholders on Tuesday, July 11, however, led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicle spare parts.”

Babafemi pointed out that NDLEA agents from the Lagos Directorate of Operation and General Investigations successfully stopped attempts to export varied quantities of illegal substances using courier services.

He stated that a courier company had discovered 336 grams of skunk concealed inside computer hard drives headed for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.