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 6,000kg of cannabis, with a combined estimated street value of over N3.4 billion.
The seizures were made during intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the largest single seizure involved 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81 billion.
The consignment was intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, after NDLEA operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance. A joint examination with Customs and other security agencies uncovered the cannabis concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags containing two Toyota Sienna vehicles.
In Delta State, operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency said Ekpe allegedly impersonated a senior police officer, using a forged identity card bearing the name Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, to evade checkpoints while transporting drugs. His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai at an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered.
In Niger State, three young suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a pistol, magazines and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Also along the Abaji-Abuja highway, NDLEA officers arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks.
In Lagos, Onyeka Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg. Another 59kg of cannabis sativa was intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.
The agency also arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, 154,480 tramadol capsules were recovered from Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested separately.
In Imo State, Ifesinachi Godwin, 25, was arrested 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 the raid and destruction of a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo State. The operation led to the destruction of about 5,000kg of cannabis, with 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis recovered for prosecution.
The NDLEA said its commands also continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven and balanced approach to drug control.