The Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company has arrested a Brazilian nationwide, Ingrid Rosa Benevides, over an try to smuggle heroin value greater than N3 billion into Nigeria.
That is in response to an announcement issued by the Company’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The 30-year-old girl was arrested on Friday, January 23, on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, Abuja, following intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives
What NDLEA mentioned
The NDLEA disclosed that Benevides arrived in Nigeria aboard a Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Brazil. A search of her two checked-in luggage revealed 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian espresso. Nevertheless, additional examination revealed that the packs didn’t include espresso.
When the sealed espresso packs have been opened, NDLEA officers discovered white substances that have been later examined and confirmed to be heroin. The overall weight of the seized medication was put at 30.09 kilograms, with an estimated road worth of over N3 billion.
“A complete of 30.09 kilograms of white heroin hid in factory-sealed espresso packs value over N3 billion in road worth,” they said
The Company mentioned the suspect, who works as a non-public safety officer in Brazil, claimed throughout preliminary interrogation that she introduced the consignment below the guise of visiting Nigeria for holidays.
Airport and border interceptions
On the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted two passengers, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, on Tuesday, January 20, whereas trying to journey to Istanbul, Turkey.
The Company mentioned a complete of three,990 tablets of tapentadol and tramadol have been recovered from their baggage, hid inside meals gadgets.
- In Lagos, operatives of the NDLEA Marine Command intercepted a picket boat conveying 44 jumbo luggage of Ghana Loud hashish weighing 1,848 kilograms at Jakande Seashore, Lekki, within the early hours of Thursday, January 22.
- The NDLEA additionally confirmed the arrest of two suspects, Aminu Ali Baba and Abdulrasheed Abubakar, in reference to the interception of two luggage containing 140 packets of explosives heading to Kano and Kaduna. The explosives have been intercepted alongside the Kaduna–Zaria freeway, whereas follow-up operations led to the arrest of the suspects in Kano and Kaduna respectively.
- In Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 179,590 tablets of tramadol and diazepam hid in sacks of charcoal and animal feed in a industrial automobile coming from Yobe State. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the proprietor of the consignment, Rabiu Imam.
Nationwide raids
Throughout a number of states, the Company reported a number of arrests and seizures, together with:
- The arrest of a 72-year-old suspect, Afolalu Joseph, in Ekiti State, with 62 kilograms of skunk
- The arrest of an Edo village head, Chief James Abamu, and one other suspect with 681 kilograms of skunk and 181 kilograms of hashish seeds
- The seizure of massive portions of tramadol, skunk, pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, and different illicit substances in Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Benue, Niger, Kwara, FCT, Kano, Ondo, and Jigawa States
The NDLEA mentioned a number of suspects are presently in custody, whereas investigations and prosecutions are ongoing.
What it is best to know
The arrest of the Brazilian nationwide is a part of a recurring sample of foreign-linked drug trafficking instances uncovered by the NDLEA at Nigeria’s worldwide airports.
- In October 2024, NDLEA operatives arrested a Thailand returnee on the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport, Lagos, after intercepting 13.30 kilograms of heroin valued at over N3.1 billion hid in backpacks inside two suitcases.
- Additionally in October 2024, the company arrested a Canada-based nurse alongside two businessmen on the Lagos airport. The operation led to the seizure of 35.7 kilograms of an artificial hashish pressure generally known as Canadian Loud, in addition to cocaine recovered from a suspect who had ingested the drug previous to arrival.
- Early final 12 months, NDLEA officers arrested two suspected drug traffickers on the Lagos and Port Harcourt airports, together with a passenger travelling with a Sierra Leonean passport. The suspects have been discovered to have ingested wraps of heroin, which have been later recovered following physique scans and remark.
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