The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer for attempting to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine in Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the suspect disguised with a fake pregnancy in a bid to evade security checks and avoid suspicion.
The widow, a mother of one and owner of a popular fashion outlet along Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, was arrested at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, on August 22 while attempting to deliver the cocaine consignment to buyers in Abuja.
A follow-up search at her residence in Ago Palace Way led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent commonly used in the production of cocaine variants.
“In her statement, the suspect confessed that she inherited the illicit trade from her late husband, who died two years ago. She, however, claimed she had been running her fashion business for the past 20 years,” Babafemi said.
NDLEA Intercepts US Cannabis Shipment
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted 90 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, smuggled from the United States through a courier company in Lagos.
Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, operatives carried out a sting operation at Rumde Baru, Yola South, where a drug kingpin escaped by scaling a fence. His 55-year-old associate, who attempted the same, was arrested on the spot.
Recovered items included:
• A black Toyota Tundra Jeep (FST-885-CZ)
• 354,480 pills of Tramadol 225mg and 250mg
• A Toyota Yaris car (DSA-776-AA)
• Other assorted illicit drugs.
NDLEA Commends Officers
Babafemi quoted NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), as commending the officers and men of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), Lagos, and FCT Commands for their professionalism and resilience in the successful arrests and seizures.
