The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspects, including a former convict, for attempting to smuggle cocaine to the United Kingdom using starch sachets as concealment.
NDLEA operatives intercepted the drug consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. According to the agency, the suspects tried to export the drugs by hiding them inside packs of a local starch product. The cocaine, weighing over 8 kilograms, was discovered during a routine screening of outbound cargo.
One of the suspects, previously jailed for a similar offence, had just completed his sentence before returning to the drug trade. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), confirmed the arrests, noting the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
He stated that investigations revealed the gang had planned to ship the drugs to the UK, where they expected to sell at high street value. NDLEA officials also traced the warehouse where the suspects packaged the cocaine and recovered more evidence linking them to the syndicate.
Marwa praised the officers involved and warned traffickers that the agency would continue to close in on criminal drug operations. He emphasized the importance of public support in exposing traffickers, urging citizens to report suspicious activities.
The suspects remain in custody and will face prosecution following the conclusion of investigations. The NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders from drug-related crimes.
