NDLEA recovers billion naira worth of drugs in nationwide raids

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has revealed that its operatives in a nationwide intelligence operation have discovered cocaine worth several billions of naira hidden in heavy-duty vehicle hinges and Ghanaian material, Kente.

PUNCH Metro In a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA intercepted and seized 12.814kg of cocaine in two consignments from a courier company in Lagos, 10kg of Loud (synthetic cannabis) in 21 packages from a logistics company in Lagos, 265.25kg of Loud in a container at Tin Can Seaport, Lagos, 37.5kg of Loud in a container in Tin Can, 291.200kg of cannabis sativa in Adamawa State, 29.5kg of cannabis in Kano State and 1,169kg of cannabis in Lagos State.

In the statement, Babafemi revealed that 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente cloth bound for the United Kingdom was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos. On Monday, August 5, 2024, 10.494 kilograms of the same class A drug was recovered from the same logistics company concealed in heavy duty hinge axles bound for the United States after NDLEA sniffer dogs recovered the car parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two consignments to 12.814 kilograms.

“In the same vein, five other consignments bound for the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier company in Lagos on Friday, August 9, 2024. They included 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; various quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all bound for the UK, as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg bound for Canada. At another logistics company in Lagos, the NDLEA operatives recovered 21 packages of Loud, a 10kg synthetic cannabis strain originating from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.

“Also, on Wednesday, August 7, NDLEA operatives at Tin Can Seaport, Lagos, intercepted 532 packages of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, one of three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 originating from Montreal, Canada. The seizure was made during a 100% joint investigation with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders. The following day, Thursday, August 8, operatives recorded another seizure of 75 packages of the same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613 originating from Canada.

The NDLEA also reported that its operatives have arrested several suspects, including members of cocaine trafficking networks, and destroyed 1,230kg of cannabis in Kogi State. The organisation also said it would continue its awareness-raising activities on the fight against drug abuse across the country.

“In Adamawa State, on Thursday, August 8, the NDLEA operatives, with the support of men of Operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa, arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed bricks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.200kg in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM. He claimed that he was bringing the consignment from Edo State for delivery in Yola, Adamawa State.

“Two suspects, Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested on Tuesday, August 6, at the Gadar Tamburawa area of ​​Kano with 29.5kg of cannabis, while the NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Sunday, August 4, seized 1,169kg of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid Road, Ajah.

“In another intelligence operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, August 7, arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, in the Amuwo Odofin area of ​​Lagos, while he was attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra State,” he stated.

In addition, the NDLEA disclosed that it had on Thursday, August 8, arrested two members of another cocaine syndicate in Nnewi and Oba towns, Anambra State. This was a follow-up operation after their consignments were seized in a bus belonging to GUO Transport Company in Benin, Edo State, on the same day.

“While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at the Benin Toll Gate with a total of 2.865kg of cocaine, Izuchukwu Arinze, 40, was nabbed in Nnewi town when he attempted to collect his consignment of 1.748kg of cocaine and 514 grams of sodium bicarbonate, while Amaechi Okoro, 39, was arrested when he attempted to collect his own 1.117kg of cocaine in Oba town.

“No less than 1,230.00kg of cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland in Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi State on Friday, August 9, by NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested.

“With the same fervor, the agency’s commands and units across the country have continued their awareness-raising activities on the war on drug abuse in schools, places of worship, workplaces and communities throughout the past week,” the statement said.

The Agency’s Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (retired), commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Tin Can, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Kogi and Adamawa Commands, as well as those of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, for the arrests and seizures and urged them to continue with their current balanced approach to efforts to reduce drug supply and demand.