The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war against drug barons across Nigeria, intercepting large quantities of illicit drugs in operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory. The NDLEA disclosed that over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, were seized with a combined street value of more than N3.4bn.
One of the major seizures was made at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, where the NDLEA intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81bn. The shipment, which arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12, was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by the agency. The container was subjected to a joint physical examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs. Ekpe was arrested along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus. Investigation revealed that Ekpe had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card.
The NDLEA also made significant seizures in Edo State, where operatives raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, and arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai. The agency’s spokesman said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which it alleged was being used as a front for storing illicit drugs. In Niger State, three suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine.
In Lagos, the NDLEA arrested several suspects and recovered large quantities of illicit drugs. 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg were recovered from a suspect, Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere. Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company. Additionally, 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered from a suspect, Ibrahim Hudu, at Apongbo, Lagos.
The NDLEA also made significant seizures in Gombe State, where 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar and Hassana Muhammad, 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. In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid and destruction of a 5,000kg cannabis farm covering two hectares in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers and men of the affected commands and urged them to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven operations. The agency’s efforts are aimed at curbing the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The NDLEA’s operations have led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs.
Key points
- The NDLEA seized over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, with a combined street value of more than N3.4bn.
- The agency arrested several suspects, including a 49-year-old man who impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints.
- The NDLEA Chairman urged the agency’s officers and men to sustain their intelligence-driven operations to curb the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
