The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 24-year-old Thai national, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 46.6 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that the suspect was apprehended at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
“An attempt by a 24-year-old Thai woman, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud into Nigeria through Lagos airport was thwarted by NDLEA operatives. The illicit consignment was discovered in her luggage during inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha,” the statement read.
Wimonnat reportedly confessed to being recruited as a drug courier, with the promise of receiving $3,000 upon successful delivery. She was arrested on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the arrival hall of Terminal 20.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport intercepted 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing 42.2 kilograms, concealed within the walls of crated cartons and intended for shipment to London, United Kingdom.
“Three suspects, a freight agent and two dispatch riders were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before operatives traced the mastermind, Samuel Bitris, to his residence in Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos, where he was taken into custody,” Babafemi stated.
Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NDLEA officers intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of Tamol, a brand of tramadol, during a joint examination at the Port Harcourt Port Complex. The shipment, consisting of 225mg tramadol pills, was discovered in a 40ft container in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on February 20.
Further drug seizures were recorded in Nasarawa and Niger states. In Nasarawa, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects; Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42 at Kokona/Keffi on February 22 with 517 kilograms of skunk.
Similarly, in Niger State, two individuals, Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, were intercepted along Sabon Asibiti Road in the Kontagora area on February 20 while transporting 62.7 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Corolla.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved in the operations, highlighting their dedication to combating drug trafficking.
“The operational successes achieved in these drug seizures reflect our strategic approach to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts,” Marwa.