The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the seizure of illicit drugs worth more than N3.4bn in coordinated operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said its operatives recovered more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis in the operations.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
In Lagos, the agency intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 603.75kg and estimated to be worth N1.81bn.
Babafemi said the consignment arrived at the Tin-Can Island Port from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.
He said a joint examination involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16 led to the discovery of the drugs.
“The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the 40-foot container,” he said.
In Delta State, operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba for allegedly transporting 292.48kg of skunk in a Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the agency, Ekpe allegedly impersonated a Deputy Superintendent of Police using a forged identity card to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints.
Babafemi said a 39-year-old accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
“Investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged ID card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments,” he said.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives reportedly raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which it alleged was being used to store illicit drugs.
Meanwhile, three suspects were arrested in Niger State along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in the Tafa Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol, another magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
On the Abaji-Abuja Highway, NDLEA operatives also arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.
The agency said the suspects were transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks.
In Lagos, 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company.
The NDLEA also said 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered from 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos.
In Gombe State, 154,480 tramadol capsules were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market respectively.
In Imo State, operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
The agency also reported the destruction of a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest, Ondo State.
Four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during the operation, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered, according to the NDLEA.
The agency said the farm contained an estimated 5,000kg of cannabis.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to maintain intelligence-led efforts against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa also called for a sustained and balanced approach to drug control operations across the country.
