By Oghenekevwe Laba
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled a plot to smuggle 40.255kg of methamphetamine to South Africa on board a South African Airline flight. The consignment was detected at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. A total of 41 parcels of the methamphetamine were found hidden inside grinded melon (egusi) packed with cosmetics and provisions.
In a statement made available to Urhobotoday, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr Hamza Umar maintained that the drug was found in a bag of provisions and cosmetics. “The drug was packaged in 41 parcels in white transparent polythene and hidden inside grinded melon. Other items like gala, biscuits, milk, body cream and food ingredient were also in the package to divert attention. We have impounded a Hummer Jeep, Range Rover Jeep and a Bus from suspected members of the cartel” Hamza stated.

The suspect, Ihedioha Chidi who is a 25 year old patient medicine dealer said that he was given the sum of four hundred and fifty thousand naira to send the consignment.
“My childhood friend who lives in South Africa sent me N450,000 to send his goods to him in South Africa. It was while processing the shipment that NDLEA officers found drugs inside the goods and I was arrested” Ihedioha stated. He is single and lives at Okota, Lagos. Ihedioha hails from Imo State.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade promised to rid the country of illicit drugs. In his words, “we are working hard to halt the illicit production of methamphetamine in the country. So far 5 clandestine laboratories used for methamphetamine production have been detected in the country in the past two years. The Agency will continue to dislodge drug cartels by detecting production centres and intercepting all shipments of drugs. This seizure is a warning to drug barons that the battle line is drawn. More arrests shall be made in respect of the case and assets traceable to them shall be forfeited”.
The case is under investigation.