Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in a local mortar and a backpack allegedly prepared for shipment to China and Italy through a logistics company in Lagos.

The agency said 250 grammes of cocaine were hidden inside the base of a locally made mortar bound for China, while another 500 grammes were concealed in the false bottom of a backpack destined for Italy during operations carried out on July 30.

In separate operations, NDLEA arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rivers State with various illicit substances and intercepted a truck carrying 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup in Anambra State, leading to the arrest of the driver.