Abuja, Oct. 13, 2024 – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Oguejiofor Simonpeter, a Thailand returner for allegedly importing 13.30kg of heroin worth over N3.192 billion.
He was arrested while attempting to smuggle in the drug concealed in six backpacks loaded in two big suitcases at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos on Oct. 5, 2024.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to the NDLEA, Simonpeter left Thailand on October 3 on a Qatar Airways flight, and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos.
His luggage, however, was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination.
“After arriving Lagos on the 5th October, he contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he can pick them up as rush bags in a bit to beat security checks.
However, NDLEA officers intercepted him at the point of exit.
“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all the six backpacks.
“The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg.
“In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.
“The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22,740,958,000.
“The illicit consignments were seized from containers watched and listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 per cent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between October 7 and 11, 2024.”
The NDLEA said it also intercepted 32.6 million pills of tramadol worth over N12.5bn and N1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of over N10 billion at the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state, respectively.
It said the combined monetary value of the seized opioids amounted to N22,740,958,000. (GBN)
