Entrepreneur and auto parts trader detained for attempting to export cocaine and painkillers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that it has detained Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, a businesswoman from Ibadan, Oyo state, and Arinze Ora, an auto parts trader, for allegedly attempting to export cocaine and opioid consignments to London, United Kingdom, and Congo Brazzaville, respectively.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, on Friday, September 6, 2024, NDLEA agents at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos stopped a shipment headed for the United Kingdom.
Following a thorough inspection of the shipment, he claimed to have found 5,250 rohypnol tablets and 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup, each weighing 135.70 kg, concealed inside food cartons.

The statement claims that Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, the goods agent who delivered the package for export, was detained right away.
Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, another suspect, was apprehended after more inquiry revealed that his mother, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, 58, had sent him the consignment from Ibadan to deliver to the agency, according to Babafemi.

"On Saturday, September 7, a follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan, where she exports cargo and deals in food."

The agent Owojori acknowledged in his statement that he has been assisting Mrs. Adewunmi with exporting goods to the UK. He also mentioned that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for this operation, when he had previously received N2.1 million for a consignment of a similar nature handled for the businesswoman.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that on Wednesday, September 11, employees at the same export shed at the Lagos airport stopped several cartons of powdered powder custard and auto spare parts that were being flown by Ethiopian Airlines to Congo Brazzaville.

According to him, after a thorough examination of the shipment, 300 grammes of cocaine were found hidden among some auto components and containers of Checkers powder custard.

"The consignment's sender, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, was arrested as a result of a follow-up operation," he added.

Babafemi continued, "In the meantime, two brothers, Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba, who are sponsors of drug traffickers who specialise in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam, were arrested by operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit on Tuesday, September 10th."