The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested three members of an organized criminal organization which specializes in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America following the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

The NDLEA in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects were arrested after over two months they were declared wanted.

The agency noted that a total of 51.90 kilograms of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

The NDLEA said that the consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70 kilogram recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2 kilogram was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.

The agency added that while it has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.

In the same vein, the NDLEA said the attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu Festus to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight on Thursday 18th of April was thwarted by its officers.

It narrated that when his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80 kilogram were discovered concealed in his bag.

In his statement, the suspect who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria in 1st April, was said to have confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid 1.2 million naira upon successful delivery in Oman.