By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed several drug trafficking networks across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory, seizing illicit drug consignments with a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion.
The operations, which yielded over 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, were carried out in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the FCT.
According to an official statement signed by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, one of the major breakthroughs was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
The consignment, shipped from Montreal, Canada, arrived at the port on September 12 and was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by NDLEA operatives.
A joint physical examination conducted by the NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies on September 16 uncovered the Canadian Loud concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles in a 40-foot container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency said investigation revealed that Ekpe allegedly impersonated a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using the name Godwin Emeka and a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop along 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 illicit substances were recovered from the workshop, which Ossai allegedly used as a front for drug storage.
In Niger State, three suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The suspects, Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were arrested on September 15 with the weapons concealed in a black travel bag.
Also, NDLEA officers along the Abaji-Abuja Highway arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, on September 18 with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were concealed in eight sacks and were reportedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg, while 59kg of cannabis sativa was intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.
Another suspect, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested at Apongbo on September 17 with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered 154,480 capsules of tramadol from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, arrested at Barunde area and Gombe Main Market respectively.
Similarly, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest.
The operation led to the destruction of 5,000kg of skunk, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.
The NDLEA also said its commands and formations sustained War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the period.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.
