NDLEA: Intercepts Cocaine Akwa Ibom-Cameroon Boat, Arrests 3

• NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat traveling from Akwa Ibom State to Cameroon, leading to the arrest of three men.
• Kingsley John, 27, was found with 20 grams of cocaine hidden in fufu and 435 grams of skunk.
• The other two suspects, Etima Effiong Eekpo and Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, were found with 1.12 kg and 42.06 kg of skunk, respectively, totaling 42.622 kg of drugs.
• This operation follows a recent major seizure in Lagos of 184.5 kg of cocaine, valued at N39 billion, linked to an international trafficking network.
• The NDLEA emphasizes its commitment to preventing the use of Nigerian waterways for cross-border drug movements, commending officers for their sustained efforts.

This latest interdiction underscores the agency's intensified focus on disrupting Nigeria's waterways as conduits for illicit substances, particularly along routes connecting coastal states to neighboring countries.

Nigerian drug enforcement authorities recently disrupted a significant cross-border drug trafficking attempt, apprehending three individuals aboard a wooden boat en route from Akwa Ibom State to Cameroon. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed the interception, which occurred on a Friday, following intelligence reports regarding the vessel's movement towards Cameroonian fishing ports. The boat was specifically headed for Ine Isu, Ine Mbah, and Ine Ikot Itie Udung, known fishing settlements in Cameroon.

Among those arrested was 27-year-old Kingsley John, who was found in possession of illicit substances. The operation also led to the apprehension of Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, and Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33. This successful interdiction highlights the NDLEA's ongoing efforts to curb Nigeria maritime drug trafficking, particularly along the Akwa Ibom Cameroon drug route, which is increasingly being utilized for the movement of narcotics across national borders.

During the search of the vessel, NDLEA operatives discovered a total of 42.622 kilograms of various illicit drugs. Kingsley John was specifically found with 20 grams of cocaine, ingeniously concealed within a large wrap of edible cassava flour, commonly known as fufu. In addition to the cocaine in fufu seizure, John also possessed 435 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

The other two suspects were also found with substantial quantities of drugs. Etima Effiong Eekpo was apprehended with 1.12 kilograms of skunk, while Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh had the largest share, possessing 42.06 kilograms of drugs. The combined haul from the three men underscores the volume of narcotics being moved through this particular cross-border drug enforcement Nigeria channel.

This Akwa Ibom operation comes just days after the NDLEA announced a much larger seizure in Lagos, where 184.5 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately N39 billion (about $27.7 million), was intercepted. That consignment was in the process of being exported via a courier company when it was seized. The Lagos bust led to the arrest of two suspected members of an international drug trafficking network, including Afolabi Kazeem Michael, also known as KC Luxury.

NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, identified Michael as the Nigerian 'arrowhead' of the alleged syndicate. Michael, a businessman and social media personality, was apprehended on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as he prepared to board a business-class flight to Paris. Operatives recovered €7,750, £2,800, and N100,000 in cash, along with jewellery, from him. A subsequent search of his Banana Island apartment in Lagos yielded exotic vehicles and other assets. Investigations revealed that this syndicate allegedly transported cocaine from South America through Nigeria to destinations in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia, with foreign counterparts collaborating on arrests abroad.

The NDLEA's successful interception of the cocaine Akwa Ibom Cameroon boat underscores the agency's strategic shift towards disrupting maritime drug trafficking routes. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrests on Sunday, emphasizing that the Akwa Ibom operation is a direct result of the agency's commitment to preventing Nigeria's waterways from being exploited for the movement of illicit drugs across national borders. This latest interdiction underscores the agency's intensified focus on disrupting Nigeria's waterways as conduits for illicit substances, particularly along routes connecting coastal states to neighboring countries.

Chairman Marwa commended the officers involved in these operations, urging them to maintain their relentless crackdown on drug trafficking. The agency's proactive stance, as demonstrated by the NDLEA Kingsley John arrest and the larger Lagos seizure, signals a robust commitment to dismantling both local and international drug syndicates utilizing Nigerian territory and waters for their illicit activities.

This incident signals the NDLEA's intensified focus on disrupting maritime drug trafficking routes, particularly those originating from Nigerian coastal states and heading to neighbouring countries. Lawyers should advise clients involved in shipping, logistics, or cross-border trade to enhance due diligence and compliance measures to mitigate risks of involvement in illicit drug movements, given the agency's proactive interdiction efforts.

Source: Original reporting via Premium Times