NDLEA Makes Historic Heroin Bust: Largest Single Consignment Seized in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant interception of what it described as the largest single heroin consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

In an operation targeting an organized criminal organization specializing in heroin trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe, and America, the agency seized a consignment weighing 51.90 kilograms on February 12, 2024.

NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, revealed this on Tuesday, during a briefing with journalists in Lagos, emphasizing that this operation marked the largest seizure of heroin at the airport to date.

The consignment was cleverly concealed within 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, demonstrating a sophisticated smuggling operation.

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Marwa highlighted the parallel between this seizure and the historic September 18, 2022, interception of 2,139.5 kilograms of cocaine in a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, which remains the biggest singular cocaine seizure in NDLEA history.

Following the recent heroin seizure, four members of the trafficking cartel were arrested in a follow-up operation conducted by NDLEA operatives.

Marwa provided further details, stating, “NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command intercepted a suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines. Each carton was stocked with three blocks of high-grade heroin. In total, we recovered 45 blocks of the illicit substance with a total weight of 49.70 kilograms.”

The investigation led to the arrest of the freight agent, Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde, who was hired for clearing services by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by an individual identified as Mr. Kola, residing in South Africa.

Further details of the operation are expected to be disclosed later.