Mujeeb Akindoyin
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted illicit drugs worth more than ₦3.4bn in a series of intelligence-led operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The operations also led to the recovery of more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, about 6,000kg of cannabis, firearms and ammunition, while several suspected drug traffickers were arrested.
The NDLEA disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, the operations were conducted in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT.
One of the biggest seizures was made at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, where NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The agency valued the consignment at ₦1.811bn.
The drugs, according to the NDLEA, were concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles placed in a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada.
The container arrived at the port on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.
A joint examination conducted on September 16 reportedly led to the discovery of the cannabis consignment.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of a suspected trafficker who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer in an attempt to evade security checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
In another major operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were recovered from Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, who were arrested on September 18 along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
The agency said the substances were concealed in eight sacks and were allegedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, where they recovered 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
Another 59kg of cannabis was intercepted at a logistics company in the state, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
At Apongbo, Lagos, the agency also arrested Ibrahim Hudu, 43, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered 154,480 tramadol capsules from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
The suspects were arrested separately at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market on September 18.
In Imo State, Ifesinachi Godwin, 25, was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk, according to the agency.
In Ondo State, four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in the Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The NDLEA said its operatives destroyed about 5,000kg of skunk at the farm, while another 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered as exhibits for prosecution.
Three arrested with AK-47 rifles, pistol
The nationwide operation also uncovered firearms in Niger State, where three young men were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
The suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested on September 15.
The NDLEA said officers recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles with a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
The agency said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued.
Commenting on the operations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the affected commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged them to sustain the agency’s current approach to drug control.
The NDLEA also said its commands continued public sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme during the week, with campaigns conducted in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said the operations formed part of its continuing efforts to disrupt the trafficking, distribution and cultivation of illicit drugs across the country.
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