 have uncovered a major international drug trafficking syndicate using breakfast cereals as a disguise to export illicit substances){kind=link}
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a major international drug trafficking syndicate using breakfast cereals as a disguise to export illicit substances abroad.
The bust occurred during a coordinated raid on a hotel in Lagos, where NDLEA officers intercepted carefully packaged parcels of cereal laced with narcotics, allegedly destined for Italy and Pakistan.
According to a statement from the agency’s spokesperson, the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the cartel believed to be exploiting Nigeria’s hospitality and export sectors to smuggle drugs out of the country.
“Acting on credible intelligence, our operatives stormed a hotel in Lagos where a suspect had checked in with the drug-laced packages. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the contents of the cereal boxes had been infused with substances suspected to be methamphetamine,” the NDLEA said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were preparing to dispatch the drug-laden packages through a courier service to unsuspecting contacts in Italy and Pakistan, hidden under the guise of regular food items.
A senior NDLEA official involved in the operation disclosed that the raid not only prevented the drugs from reaching their foreign destinations but also exposed a network of traffickers believed to have collaborators within the logistics and export chain.
“This method of concealment is becoming increasingly common, but we are evolving faster. We are committed to dismantling these networks and protecting Nigeria’s image globally,” the official added.
At least one suspect was arrested during the hotel raid, with NDLEA confirming that more arrests are likely as investigations widen. The suspect is currently in custody and assisting authorities with further leads.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and called on citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
This latest bust adds to a string of recent successes by the NDLEA in curbing narcotics trafficking across Nigeria, under the leadership of Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), whose no-nonsense approach has seen the agency’s operations intensified nationwide.
With this interception, Nigeria dodges what could have been another black mark in international drug monitoring circles, as global scrutiny on trafficking routes continues to rise.
@SaharaReporters
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