Auto Parts Dealer, Businesswoman Arrested in Connection with UK-Bound Drug Trafficking Scheme

Authorities from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended two individuals involved in attempts to export illegal drugs hidden in foodstuffs and auto parts. Among those arrested are Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, a businesswoman from Ibadan, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer.

NDLEA officers intercepted a shipment bound for the United Kingdom at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on September 6, 2024. A thorough inspection of the cargo revealed 924 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 135.7 kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol concealed within cartons of food items. Following the discovery, the cargo’s freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, was immediately arrested.

Investigations led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, the mastermind behind the shipment. Her son, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, confessed that the consignment had been sent from Ibadan for delivery to the agent. Further questioning revealed that Owojori had previously worked for Mrs. Adewunmi, earning millions for previous drug exports to the UK.

In a separate incident at the same airport on September 11, NDLEA officers discovered 300 grams of cocaine hidden in containers of custard powder and auto parts, part of a shipment headed to Congo Brazzaville. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Arinze Ora, a trader based in Lagos.

The NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to crack down on drug trafficking have led to several additional arrests, including two brothers, Ikechukwu and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, identified as key players in a Vietnam-bound drug smuggling ring. They were arrested after an earlier suspect, Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, was caught with 1.282 kg of cocaine.

In Gombe State, a large haul of 2.49 million tramadol pills was seized from a truck on the Bauchi-Gombe road, while additional arrests in Kaduna, Ekiti, and Bauchi states saw significant quantities of drugs confiscated, including cannabis and tramadol pills.

The NDLEA also discovered 350,000 bottles of codeine syrup shipped from India during a joint operation with the Nigerian Customs Service at Lagos’ Tincan Port on September 10.

Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba-Marwa, praised the agency’s officers for their efforts, urging them to intensify their crackdown on drug trafficking and to continue their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaign across the country.