Spare Parts Dealer Arrested in Major Cocaine Smuggling Operation.
From Our Correspondent.
In a significant breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, an automobile spare parts dealer, for attempting to smuggle two kilograms of cocaine hidden within vehicle propellers bound for Angola.
The arrest followed an extensive manhunt launched just weeks earlier, after the cocaine consignment was seized on February 21 at a logistics company located in the Aspanda Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, shared that collaborative efforts with Angolan authorities led to the identification and arrest of the designated recipient in Angola, subsequently unveiling Ubodoeze’s identity.
On March 6, operatives tracked Ubodoeze to his residence in Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos, where he was captured attempting to flee in a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle.
A comprehensive search of the vehicle yielded a substantial quantity of phenacetin, a cutting agent for cocaine, weighing 75.50 kilograms, masterfully disguised as semolina. Additionally, a digital scale, typically used for measuring illicit drugs, was also found at his residence.
In his confession, Ubodoeze revealed his dual involvement in the sale of motor spare parts and drug trafficking at Ladipo market in the Mushin area of Lagos.
He indicated that he was alerted to the arrest of the intended recipient in Angola, prompting him to hastily attempt to vacate his home.
The NDLEA also reported additional operations, including the interception of cannabis-infused candies and significant seizures of opioids across various locations in Lagos and other states, demonstrating the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria.
