Suspects arrested by NDLEA operatives. Photo: NDLEA
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lekki-based artistes’ manager and his Ikoyi businessman accomplice who specialise in distributing illicit drugs to fun seekers at VIP night clubs and lounges in Lekki and Island axis of Lagos state.
Their arrest followed an intelligence about a shipment of colorado; a synthetic strong strain of cannabis coming for them from Los Angeles, United States.
The NDLEA Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde (aka Papalampa) was the first to be arrested in his house when the consignment arrived on Sunday 23rd July.
He said during preliminary interview, the suspect confessed that he started the illicit trade three years ago and has been selling to patrons of clubs and lounges in Lekki and Lagos Island.
He further said the suspect identified some of the establishments to include Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA and Hot box.
“Oseni said beside the drug business, he also organizes shows for artistes around Lagos and outside Nigeria”, he said.
Mr Babafemi also revealed that, a total of 10 parcels of colorado weighing 2.50kg concealed inside large tins of coffee and duvets linked to Oseni were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.
During a follow up search of his residence, operatives recovered some quantities of the same substance, a digital weighing scale and other paraphernalia, he said.
In other arrests, Mr. Babafemi said an Ikoyi based businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna also linked to the shipment was away in South Africa when the consignment arrived.
He said the Agency was on the lookout for Mr Kingsley who was eventually arrested by NDLEA officers on Thursday July 27 when he returned to the country on a Kenya Airlines flight at the Lagos airport.
Kingsley, in his statement accepted ownership of a part of the consignment.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya.
A search of the consignment revealed that various quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy) popularly known as ‘Molly’ and Rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuff.
Writing by Nosa Aituamen; Editing Hadiza Abdulrahman and Annabel Nwachukwu