Daredevil narcotics couriers who used the statue of Mary, Mother of Jesus, to conceal their illicit drugs have been arrested in Lagos.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the drugs concealed in the statue and some in auto spare parts to be despatched to Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, stated on Saturday in Abuja that 140 grammes of methamphetamine packaged in the statue of Mary was seized in one of the courier companies.
The drug was to be delivered in The Philippines.
Babafemi added that 500 grammes of heroin concealed in auto spare parts heading to Canada were also intercepted at a second courier company.
He stated also that a package of 3.1 kilogrammes of Indian hemp concealed inside spices, and another package of one kilogramme of Indian hemp concealed inside local herbs were seized.
The two packages were to be delivered at the UAE.
In a related development, the NDLEA arrested 31 suspects in Ondo State for being in possession of 276 kg of assorted illicit drugs. Those arrested included seven females.
They were arrested during a two-week raid which began on April 6.
Babafemi said that the sting operations were carried out to curb the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths and even the elderly in Ondo State.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
