Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids concealed in export cartons bound for the United Kingdom and Australia, while also destroying 65,000 kilograms of skunk in a series of coordinated anti-drug operations across the country.
The agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, detailing major seizures, arrests, and destruction of illicit substances carried out over the past week.
According to the agency, the drug consignments were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos State during the examination of export shipments.
NDLEA said 170 grams of cocaine, carefully sealed in cellophane parcels and concealed within the walls of a carton filled with clothes destined for Australia, were recovered during the operation.
Another shipment heading to the United Kingdom was found to contain 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection hidden inside a carton.
In Delta State, operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area, where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland and recovered an additional 22.9 kilograms of the substance. A 52-year-old suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter, was later arrested during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku.
A separate operation at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area led to the destruction of another 37,500 kilograms of skunk spread across 15 hectares of farmland. Officers also recovered 55.4 kilograms of the substance and arrested 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera.
The agency said the two operations, supported by military personnel, brought the total quantity of skunk destroyed in Delta State to 65,000 kilograms.
In Kaduna State, operatives recovered 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid in the Dan Magaji area of Zaria, leading to the arrest of 42-year-old Husaini Suleiman.
NDLEA also intercepted a cache of military-grade ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, where 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside bags of garri were discovered in the possession of 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan. The suspect and the ammunition were subsequently handed over to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, alleged to specialise in producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for social events. He was apprehended at his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja, where officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.70 kilograms of drug-laced cookies.
In Ogun State, officers recovered 181 kilograms of skunk from a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani during an operation in Ogere.
In Taraba State, 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa was arrested along the Zaki-Biam road in Wukari Local Government Area with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
In Oyo State, two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah and Aloba Abdulazeez, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies at Challenge II area of Saki town.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,388.4 kilograms of skunk during raids on farms located in Ago forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The agency also recorded seizures in Kano State, where a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2 kilograms of trafficking 225mg pills was intercepted at Kofar Ruwa motor park. Another suspect, Aminu Isa, was arrested in the Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse campaign continued in schools across Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, and Kano states as part of efforts to reduce drug demand.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised personnel across the affected commands for maintaining a balance between aggressive drug enforcement and preventive advocacy initiatives.
