Rita Odafe
Title: Businesswoman and Auto Parts Dealer Arrested Over Drug Trafficking
Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, an entrepreneur from Oyo State, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts dealer, have been detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). They were apprehended while attempting to ship opioids and cocaine to London and Congo Brazzaville on September 6, 2024, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The NDLEA reported that 924 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing a total of 135.70 kg, along with 5,250 Rohypnol tablets, were cleverly concealed in boxes containing food items. This was revealed by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, on Sunday.
During the investigation, the freight agent Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, who submitted the cargo, was also arrested. Insight into the case led authorities to Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who indicated that it was his mother, Mrs. Adewunmi, who originally sent the shipment from Ibadan.
Following the lead, Mrs. Adebola was apprehended in Ibadan on September 7, where she was engaged in food and cargo export activities. Owojori disclosed that he had been collaborating with Mrs. Adewunmi to export goods, for which he received substantial payments.
In a connected incident on September 11, NDLEA officers intercepted another shipment intended for Congo Brazzaville containing auto spare parts and checkers powder custard. Upon inspection, they found 300 grams of cocaine hidden within the custard containers.
The sender, identified as Arinze Ora, was later arrested at his auto parts store in Lagos. Meanwhile, on September 10, the NDLEA apprehended two brothers, Ikechukwu and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, known for funding drug traffickers bound for Vietnam.
This apprehension followed another arrest of a businessman found with cocaine concealed in his stomach after attempting to board a flight to Vietnam. Further investigations revealed other traffickers targeting similar routes.
In a series of operations, the NDLEA reported various drug seizures across multiple states, including substantial amounts of tramadol and cannabis. The agency detailed the apprehensions of individuals involved in these activities and emphasized continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Expressing commendation for their teams’ efforts, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) recognized the dedication of the agency’s operatives and reiterated the importance of sustaining drug supply reduction strategies nationwide.
