Inegbu Akunna, a freight agent has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the interception of cannabis and ecstasy tablets concealed in three tubers of yam and meant to be smuggled into Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Anti-narcotics officers attached to the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) export shed of the airport made the arrests, according to a statement by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
The spokesman said the yam was intercepted on Wednesday, November 17.
Mr Babafemi also said the consignor of the outlawed consignment, Ahmodu Sulaimon, was also nabbed after that.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have arrested Agamuche Nkeonye and a lady, Oluwakemi Adeoye, heading to Oman via Asky Airline at the departure hall of Lagos airport.
Mr Babafemi said Mr Nkeonye and Ms Adeoye presented a bag containing various foodstuffs and body lotion for inspection and were arrested on Thursday, November 18.
He said 1.10kg of cannabis and some Rohypnol capsules were concealed in the bag.
In another development, NDLEA operatives intercepted cartons of deadly drinks in a container marked APZU3671697 during a joint examination with customs at the Brawal container shed of Kirikiri lighter terminal in Lagos.
Mr Babafemi said though the bill of lading indicated that the container originated from Cape town, South Africa, a search of the shippers’ database showed it was loaded from Antwerp, Belgium.
“A full inspection of the container on Thursday, November 18, showed a total of five cartons of beverages labelled as Euphoria cannabis beer and three cartons of cannabis energy drink were found.
“Other drinks in the container include 21 cartons of a drink labelled as monkey shoulder; 20 cartons of dead man’s finger; and 139 of champagne fruit, among others,” he said.
(NAN)