Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis, in major operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the seizures, made in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT, have a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion.
One of the major breakthroughs was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81 billion at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos.
The consignment was discovered on Wednesday, September 16, during a joint physical examination of a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, with Customs and other security agencies.
According to the NDLEA, the cannabis was concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside the container.
The agency also arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade security checks while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
Ekpe was arrested on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.
NDLEA said investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to beat checkpoints.
His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grammes of methamphetamine and a metal box used for storing the drugs were recovered from the premises.
In Niger State, three suspects—Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18—were arrested on September 15 along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
“Two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspects”.
Also, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on September 18 along the Abaji-Abuja highway with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, where 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.
Another 59kg of cannabis sativa packed in seven cartons was intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.
At Apongbo, Lagos, a 43-year-old suspect, Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested on September 17 with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe main market respectively.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, four suspects—Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday—were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm at Ita-Ogbolu Forest, Ondo State.
The operation led to the destruction of about 5,000kg of skunk, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.
The NDLEA also said its commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes across the country, including engagements in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The activities included lectures at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), praised personnel of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Meanwhile, Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.
