The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and 76,273 kilograms of various cannabis strains in a series of coordinated operations carried out in multiple states, leading to several arrests.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the operations were conducted between December 1 and 6 based on actionable intelligence.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse at Oko Market in Asaba, recovering 3,874,000 tramadol pills and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup.
In Imo State, 1.2 million tramadol tablets were seized along the Onitsha-Owerri Road from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha.
Another major bust occurred in Adamawa, where officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi and discovered 1,577,112 tramadol and exol-5 capsules hidden in jumbo bags mixed with footwear.
Two suspects, 25-year-old Kabiru Buba and 32-year-old Hamza Abubakar, were arrested. In a separate operation in Kano, a suspect identified as Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was caught with 197,000 exol-5 pills.
In Ekiti State, the agency destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk in Omuo forest and an additional 54,300 kilograms found in warehouses in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, arresting two individuals in connection with the seizures.
Ondo State also witnessed a significant operation, with 5,442 kilograms of skunk recovered from Igoba forest in Akure North and five suspects arrested.
NDLEA officers in Niger State recovered 500 kilograms of skunk from a van on the Mokwa-Jebba Road, while in Abuja, 22 kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado were seized on the Abaji expressway.
A follow-up action at Jabi Park led to the arrest of 33-year-old Ali Blessing, believed to be the intended recipient. Another suspect, 39-year-old Aliyu Usman, was also intercepted along the Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway with 24 kilograms of skunk and 573,500 exol-5 pills.
In Lagos, enforcement teams recovered 113 kilograms of Canadian Loud from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, while Izuchukwu Usulor was apprehended with 351 kilograms of skunk in Onipanu. At the Trade Fair complex in Ojo, officers also arrested Susan Okoro with 104.1 kilograms of cannabis.
Edo State operations saw the recovery of 447.5 kilograms of skunk from two vehicles in Agho forest, Akoko-Edo, and another 315.8 kilograms from a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde LGA.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns across schools, religious centres and communities in Kano, Benue and Rivers States.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the personnel involved in the nationwide clampdown, “Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” he stated.
The agency confirmed that ongoing investigations will lead to the prosecution of all suspects in due course.
