The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, in a series of operations across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the illicit drugs recovered in the operations had an estimated street value of more than N3.4bn.
The seizures were recorded in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the FCT, with several suspects arrested in connection with the consignments.
One of the biggest recoveries was made at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives seized 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The consignment, valued at N1.811bn, was discovered during a joint examination of a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada.
The container, which arrived on September 12, was examined on September 16 by the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
The agency said the Canadian Loud was concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside the container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old suspected trafficker, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly attempted to use a fake police identity to avoid scrutiny while transporting drugs.
Ekpe was arrested along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba on September 16 with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.
The NDLEA said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect allegedly presented himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and used a forged police identification card.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
The agency also recorded a major seizure in Niger State, where two separate operations led to the arrest of five suspects.
Three young men — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested during a patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
According to the NDLEA, the suspects were allegedly carrying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
In a separate operation along the Abaji-Abuja Highway, operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.
More than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets, were allegedly recovered from the suspects.
The NDLEA said the substances were concealed in eight sacks and were being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
In Gombe State, 154,480 tramadol capsules were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
The suspects were arrested separately at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market.
Lagos also recorded several seizures, including the arrest of Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, where operatives recovered 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Another 59kg of cannabis sativa packed in seven cartons was intercepted at a logistics company in the state, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
In Apongbo, Lagos, NDLEA operatives also arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Edo State, intelligence-led operatives raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, and arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which allegedly served as a storage point for illicit drugs.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Ondo State destroyed 5,000kg of skunk during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
Four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during the operation, while 48kg of dried and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm.
In Imo State, a 25-year-old suspect, Ifesinachi Godwin, was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
The NDLEA said its operations formed part of its continuing efforts to disrupt the production, transportation and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign during the week, taking its anti-drug message to schools and communities in several states.
Enlightenment programmes were held at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also conducted a WADA advocacy visit to the Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III.
Commending officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the seizures as products of professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
