The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as 6,000kg of cannabis, in a series of operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The agency said the seized drugs have a combined street value of over N3.4 billion.
The operations were carried out in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the FCT.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved for their professionalism and intelligence-led operations. He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Fake police officer arrested in Delta
The biggest catch of the operations was 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly posed as a senior police officer to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints while moving illicit drugs across state lines.
Ekpe was picked up on Wednesday, September 16, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency said preliminary investigation showed that he presented himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, and carried a forged police identity card. A 39-year-old suspected accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
Mechanic’s workshop used as drug store in Edo
In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a location along Agbor Road, Benin City, and arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The NDLEA said Ossai allegedly used his auto-repair workshop to store illicit drugs. Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grammes of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used to keep the substances.
Lagos: container from Canada, nitrous oxide, tramadol
At the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance after it arrived on September 12.
A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16, led to the discovery of the 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg. The consignment was packed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside the container.
Elsewhere in the state, operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on Friday, September 18, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were also intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.
In another operation, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apongbo on Thursday, September 17, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
Guns, ammunition and 1.1m pills in Niger, FCT axis
In Niger State, three suspects, Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were arrested on Tuesday, September 15, during a patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
They were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in a black travel bag.
Two other suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on Friday, September 18, along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
The agency said more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from them. The drugs were allegedly packed in eight sacks and were being moved from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
Gombe, Imo and Ondo
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19. They were arrested on Friday, September 18, at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market respectively.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested on Friday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects, Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday, were arrested on Tuesday, September 15, during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest. The NDLEA said 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed, while 48kg of dried and fresh cannabis was recovered.
Sensitisation campaigns continue
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns nationwide during the week.
Enlightenment lectures were held for students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to traditional ruler, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
The agency said the activities were part of its efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
Desk notes: The source says “eight states and the FCT” but names only seven states plus the FCT, so I wrote “several states” in the body and left out “eight” from the headlines. The source also places the Abaji-Abuja Highway arrests under Niger State, though Abaji is in the FCT, so I didn’t assign a state to it. Confirm both with the NDLEA statement before publishing.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerian Man Jailed 44 Weeks in UK for Indecent Act on Train
- APC Chiefs Say Tinubu Is Behind Wike’s Rainbow Coalition
- NDLEA intercepts N3.4bn drugs, arrests fake police officer, auto mechanic
- Akpabio in Italy: We came to pray for Nigeria ravaged by banditry, terrorism
- Catholic bishops urge National Assembly to drop Foreign Aid Bill, warn it threatens civic space
