The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the interception of large consignments of cannabis and codeine-based cough syrup at ports in Lagos and Rivers State. The seizures, valued at over N5 billion, were made at the Apapa, Tincan Island in Lagos and Onne ports. NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, searched containers from Thailand and India, leading to the recovery of significant amounts of illicit substances.
At Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives searched two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, and recovered 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg, valued at N372 million. The cannabis was concealed inside refrigerators and cartons. Meanwhile, at Onne Port, operatives searched two containers and recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg and 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg, valued at N833.2 million. The container originated from India and was shipped to Saudi Arabia, but its route was altered to avoid detection.
Further seizures were made at Tincan Island Port, where operatives recovered 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg, valued at over N3.8 billion. The cannabis was concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside drums and bags. This follows an earlier seizure of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg at the same port, valued at N1.81 billion.
In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, who attempted to smuggle 4.8kg of cocaine to Milan, Italy. The cocaine was concealed in the soles of shoes and in travelling bags. According to the NDLEA, Tunde told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine and that the consignment was meant for his partner in Italy.
The NDLEA also destroyed 20,234kg of skunk found on an 8.0936-hectare cannabis farm in Osun State. The operation was carried out on September 30. Additionally, operatives arrested 41-year-old Agbo Dennis in Plateau State after recovering 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg. The agency also arrested Idris Mohammed Kurra, who had allegedly been on the run since December 2020 after jumping bail in a drug trafficking case.
Other arrests and seizures were made in Lagos, Kogi, Edo, and Plateau states. In Lagos, operatives recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol and arrested 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo with 61 grammes of Colorado and 24 grammes of methamphetamine. In Kogi State, operatives intercepted a bus and found two sachets containing 1kg of methamphetamine. In Edo State, operatives raided a residence and recovered 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking. The agency had previously destroyed 329,865.585kg of assorted illicit drugs worth N301.06 billion following court orders. The seizures and arrests demonstrate the NDLEA's continued efforts to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Key points
- The NDLEA seized cannabis and codeine-based cough syrup worth over N5 billion at Lagos and Onne ports.
- The agency also destroyed 20,234kg of skunk found on a cannabis farm in Osun State.
- The NDLEA arrested several suspects and made significant seizures in Lagos, Kogi, Edo, and Plateau states.
