The NDLEA has seized over 1.3 million opioid pills and 6,000kg of cannabis worth more than N3.4 billion in nationwide operations that also exposed a fake police officer and a mechanic allegedly dealing in drugs.
NDLEA Intercepts N1.8bn Canadian Loud
The agency intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
The consignment, valued at N1.811 billion, arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12. NDLEA operatives and other security agencies found the drugs hidden in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles in a 40-foot container.
The agency’s operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency said Ekpe allegedly posed as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and used a forged police identity card to pass checkpoints while moving drug consignments across states.
Operatives also arrested his alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph.
Mechanic Arrested Over Drug Storage
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai at his auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City.
The agency said Ossai used the workshop as a cover for storing drugs. Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152g of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used to keep the substances.
In Niger State, operatives arrested three young men during a patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa LGA. Bashir Usman, 20, Abubakar Nuhu, 18, and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a pistol, magazines and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
NDLEA Recovers Over 1.1m Opioid Pills
On the Abaji-Abuja highway, NDLEA officers arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, on September 18.
The suspects allegedly carried more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets in eight sacks from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg. Officers also intercepted seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg at a logistics company and arrested Luke Ugokwe.
NDLEA operatives arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas on September 17.
Cannabis Farms Destroyed in Ondo
In Gombe State, officers recovered 154,480 tramadol capsules 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.
Meanwhile, four suspects—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, Ondo State.
The NDLEA said officers destroyed 5,000kg of skunk on the farm and recovered 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis for prosecution.
NDLEA Intensifies Anti-Drug Campaign
Beyond arrests and seizures, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency held enlightenment programmes at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers and personnel of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for what he described as professional and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged officers across the country to maintain the agency’s current balanced approach to drug control efforts.
