Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 68-year-old grandmother and several other suspects in coordinated anti-drug operations across multiple states, seizing large quantities of cannabis, tramadol and codeine syrup.
The agency said the operations, carried out in Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta, Kogi and Rivers states, led to the destruction of over 1,200 kilograms of cannabis cultivated in forest camps and the interception of thousands of pills and bottles of controlled substances.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Etiosa camp in Owan West Local Government Area, where they destroyed 1,266.8475 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on three farms.
During the operation, officers also recovered 23 kilograms of processed cannabis and arrested two suspects — Evelyn Ogenewu, 68, and Friday Iruoje, 43.
In Lagos, operatives arrested Ugwuja Kingsley with 56 kilograms of skunk at Agbara on February 19
Two days earlier, on February 17, Ekwe Arinze was apprehended at a motor park in Oshodi with 76 kilograms of the same substance, according to the agency.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives recorded one of the largest seizures after arresting Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, in Azare town, Katagum LGA, with 936 kilograms of skunk.
In a related operation in the same town, an additional 85.8 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, Nasiru Suleman, 36; Abdul Umar, 25; and Musa Suleman, 21.
In Ondo State, operatives stormed Iju forest, arresting Bright Timothy, 28, with 195 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds. Another suspect, Godwin Bernard, was nabbed with 198 kilograms during separate raids on forest enclaves.
In Delta State, 37 kilograms of skunk were seized from Mgbeme Ejeoma, 34, at Club Street, Ekeredjebor, Ughelli.
Along the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State, NDLEA patrol teams intercepted a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Kano and recovered no fewer than 7,300 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside two sound systems.
A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, led to the arrest of two suspects linked to the consignment Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.
At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers, in a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in a container.
The agency said it insisted on a 100 per cent physical examination of the shipment based on credible intelligence
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the affected commands for what he described as sustained offensives against drug cartels.
He urged them not to relent in ongoing efforts to rid communities of illicit drugs, warning traffickers and cultivators that the agency would continue to track and dismantle drug networks nationwide.
The NDLEA said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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