At least, 1,760,460 million pills of tramadol and other opioids have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The opioid pills, hidden in indomie noodles packs and others were intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, as well as in Gombe State.
“Over 600,000 pills of tramadol 225mg coming from Karachi, Pakistan in two separate shipments on Ethiopian Airlines flights were intercepted by operatives of NDLEA at the SAHCO Import Shed of the Lagos Airport, Monday and Tuesday, last week.
“5,960 pills of rohypnol, concealed in 60 packs of indomie noodles going to Johannesburg, South Africa, were also seized at the SAHCO Export Shed of the airport, last Wednesday.
“A female freight agent, Olaleye Adeola has already been arrested in connection with the noodles consignment,” NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi stated in a press release.
In a related development, a trader at Balogun market in Lagos Island, Akunne Chibuzor Tochukwu was, on Tuesday, arrested in collaboration with the Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Lagos.
Tochukwu was alleged to have attempted to export a tramadol consignment to Dubai, UAE. The consignment was seized at the Lagos Airport by NDLEA operatives on 25 November.
A market labourer, Oke Abosede Ronke whose services were requested to convey the drug for export had earlier been arrested.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos, last Sunday, intercepted a truck and a bus conveying 113 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,802.84 kilograms around the VGC Estate area of Ajah.
“Three suspects- Taofeek Yusuf; Ifeanyi Okorie and Israel Nwachukwu- were arrested in connection with the seizures,” Babafemi stated.
“In Gombe State, a total of 1,154,500 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and exol being transported from Onitsha, Anambra state to Gombe by a truck driver, Umar Hassan, 28, were seized on Thursday 15th Dec. at Byepass area of Gombe by a team of NDLEA officers following credible intelligence.
“Also acting on intelligence, operatives in Edo State, last Friday, intercepted a Honda Ridgeline pick-up vehicle with Reg No BWR 699 CV loaded with 29 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 319kgs.
“The driver of the vehicle, Alfred Vratombo, 32, was arrested with fake police uniforms, which he was using to deceive security men on the road.
“Attempt by a drug dealer, Chucks Kalu (29), to smuggle 26kgs of cannabis, concealed inside packs of blenders, into Kano was thwarted by operatives who intercepted the consignment along Abuja-Kaduna Express Road.
“The suspect was later arrested him in a follow up operation in Kano, just as another suspect, Rabilu Sa’ad Abubakar,42, was also arrested in a follow up operation in Kano.
“This was following the seizure of his consignment 1,980 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, concealed inside cartons, were seized along Abuja-Kaduna Express Road,” Babafemi added.
“In Bauchi State, operatives, on Saturday, arrested Muhammed Ahmed, 40, with 288 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 244.5Kg in Darazo area of the state.
“In Delta State, NDLEA officers stormed the home of a drug kingpin, Okrika Kingsley Ozioma, at Usiefurum Town, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
“There, an underground drug bunk was uncovered in a three-bedroom bungalow building owned by the suspect who is now on the run.
“17.6kgs of C/S were recovered from the bunk in addition to a 2003 Silver Golf car with registration number Lagos KJA 572 AZ used for the distribution of drugs within and outside Warri.
“In Oyo State, a suspect, Yusuf Ayinde (40), was arrested with 50.4kgs cannabis in his residence at Idi-Ose via Amuloko, Ona-Ara LGA, on Saturday,” Babafemi further disclosed.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) CON, OFR, commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Gombe, Edo, Delta, Kaduna and Oyo states commands for their commitment and vigilance leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week.
The NDLEA boss, however, urged them and their compatriots across other formations to continue to surpass their past records of achievements.
