The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 126.95 kilograms of cocaine and skunk imported from Brazil and Canada.
The illicit drugs, concealed in herbal tea packs and imported vehicles imported from the two countries, respectively, were intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu and the Tincan Seaport, Lagos.
As stated in a release by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, 1.7million tramadol pills were seized by NDLEA operatives in Lagos.
This was as a blind grandpa and a notorious leper topped the list of arrests made in raids carried out in Osun, Kano, Ondo and Edo states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the Enugu Airport, an Ethiopian Airline male passenger, Eze Christian Ikenna (42), coming from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was intercepted on arrival at the airport at about 12:30pm last Friday.
“A search of his two bags revealed 19 big sachets which he claimed to contain herbal tea but were later found to be cocaine weighing 16.20 kilograms,” it was stated in the release.
Also 110.75kgs of cannabis were discovered in two of the four vehicles in a container from Montreal, Canada at Sifax Okota Bonded Terminal by NDLEA operatives attached to the Tincan Command of the agency.
Babafemi stated that the drug was found concealed in a 2011 Toyota Sienna and a 2011 Honda Pilot SUV, following a joint examination carried out on the container, marked TCLU 7799237, last Wednesday.
He further stated that the agency also succeed in tracing a consignment of tramadol to a warehouse at Greenfield Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
The success attained in cutting access to illicit opioids by the agency again paid off on Tuesday as the NDLEA operatives have relentless been tracking the consignment for some months.
“When the store was opened, a total of 1,645,560) pills of Tramadol 100mg, 200mg and 225mg were recovered.
“Another 60,000 pills of Tramadol 250mg were equally recovered from a wanted drug dealer, Diugwu Alphonsus, in Bariga area of the state same day.
“Raids carried out in Akala area of Mushin, on Wednesday, 18 and Friday, 20 January, led to the recovery of 781.7kgs of cannabis,” it was stated in the release.
A blind 67-year-old grandpa, Aliyu Adebiyi, in whose house at Sokoto Village, Owena Ijesa Atakumosa Local Government Area of Osun State, NDLEA officers found 234kgs of cannabis.
“In his statement, he said a drug dealer kept the consignment with him for a fee of N6,000 per month and paid for three months upfront,” Babafemi revealed.
Similarly, a leper notorious for drug dealing, Haruna Abdullahi (45), was arrested at Garko Town, Kano State, last Thursday.
“2.2kgs of cannabis and various quantities of Diazepam and Exol were recovered from him,” it was added in the release.
“No less than 370kgs of cannabis were recovered from a sawmill at Ilale, Owo in Ondo State when operatives stormed the industrial plant following credible intelligence.
“261 kilograms of the illicit substance were seized from a suspect, Uche Monday, at Uneme-Osu, Ososo Road in Akoko Edo area of Edo State.
“Another 74kgs was evacuated from a bush at Okpela fertiliser community in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.
“In Abuja, NDLEA operatives, on Monday 16 January, raided Lugbe Area of the FCT, based on credible intelligence that a dealer was operating in a batcher on the outskirt of the town.
“A search of the batcher led to the recovery of 42.9kgs cannabis, 15grams cocaine, 137grams Methamphetamine, and a cash of N2,148,500, believed to be proceeds of the criminal trade,” it was further disclosed in the release.
Reacting to the seizures and arrests in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) CON, OFR, DSS, commended all the officers involved in the operations.
He also charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and focused on winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
