Aminat Gusanu
In a major breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a colossal haul of 14,481,519 pills of Tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup, with an estimated value of over thirteen billion Naira, in a series of meticulously planned operations across multiple locations in Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, revealed these significant drug cartel busts in a press statement issued on Sunday.
The meticulously executed operations took place in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota, and the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
The series of actions began with the raid of House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue in the Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin on Sunday, October 29th.
In this operation, NDLEA operatives confiscated 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup, amounting to 4,510,000 milliliters.
On Tuesday, October 31st, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo, located in the Onitire area of Surulere.
This operation resulted in the seizure of Twelve Million Seven Hundred Thousand (12,700,000) pills of tramadol.
Furthermore, NDLEA arrested six members of a syndicate who were using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport.
These individuals were apprehended, and One Million Two Hundred and Ten Thousand (1,210,000) pills of tramadol were seized from them. Three other suspects are currently on the run and wanted by NDLEA.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 50-year-old businessman, Nwokolo Ifeanyi Anthony, on October 29th, during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 878 to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The result of his body scan tested positive for illicit drug ingestion. Subsequently, the suspect was kept under observation, and he excreted a total of 86 pellets of heroin, weighing 1.330 kilograms.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives attached to courier firms intercepted 22 parcels of cocaine concealed in the walls of a carton containing sewn local fabrics, popularly known as Aso Oke, which was headed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a surprising turn of events, NDLEA officers arrested three blind men operating an illicit drug ring between Lagos and Kano.
The investigation was initiated following the arrest of a blind suspect, Adamu Hassan, with 12 kilograms of skunk. It was established that he was unaware of the bag’s content handed to him.
This led to the apprehension of the syndicate’s leader, Bello Abubakar, who is also blind. Muktar Abubakar, another blind individual, was also taken into custody. A fourth blind suspect, Mallam Aminu, who was to receive the consignment in Kano, is currently at large.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives stormed the Obada sawmill forest in Owena-Ijesa, Oriade LGA, Osun, arresting suspect Monday Sylvester and destroying a 6.01-hectare cannabis farm, along with the recovery of 489.8 kilograms of processed cannabis plants. In Edo, the NDLEA seized 603 kilograms of illicit substances from a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi forest in Owan West LGA.
The NDLEA is leaving no stone unturned in the battle against drug abuse and is conducting WADA (War Against Drug Abuse) advocacy lectures across the country.
These sensitization lectures are essential in raising awareness and educating various communities about the dangers of drug abuse.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the diligent efforts of the officers and men of NDLEA’s various commands and formations in the country.
He charged them to remain focused as the Agency expands its operations against drug cartels, promising to continue the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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