LAGOS — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, arrested members of a notorious trans-border drug trafficking syndicate that specialises in hiding drugs inside engine compartments of cars at the Seme border, Lagos.

The suspects identified as Chukwura Ekene and Sulaiman Akinola were intercepted at Gbaji checking point along Lagos-Seme expressway during routine check on vehicles.

According to Mr. Nicholas Ajaduronye, NDLEA, Seme Commander, “we have apprehended two members of a drug cartel that smuggle drugs into the country from Ghana. One of the suspects, Chukwura Ekene, 40, hid 18.3kg of compressed cannabis inside the air condition compartment of his Mercedes-Benz car while Sulaiman Akinola, 35, concealed 9.750kg of ephedrine and 1.3kg of heroin inside the head lamp of his Toyota Camry car.”

Speaking on the arrest, the commander, Seme Area Command of the NDLEA, said between January and June 2014 the agency seized a total of 102.405kg of narcotic drugs and arrested 20 suspected drug traffickers, 18 males and two  females. Of the cases charged to court within the period, four had been convicted while other cases are ongoing.

Those arrested include a 24-year-old student, Babatunde Gafar, found with 15.5kg of cannabis disguised as cassava flour and a 40-year-old trader, Obiasulu Chukwujekwu, found with 2kg of cocaine in a false bottom of his bag. Babatunde Gafar and Obiasulu Chukwujekwu were arrested on their way from Benin Republic.

NDLEA spokesman, Mitchelle Ofoyeju, said preliminary investigation revealed that Chukwura Ekene and Sulaiman Akinola are notorious drug smugglers that hide drugs in their vehicle engine components from Ghana to Nigeria. They operate under the cover of commercial transportation.

Commending the seizures, Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said: “This seizure of drug inside vehicle engine components will serve as a warning to other drug syndicates that their days are numbered.”