Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious drug supplier linked to bandit groups in Niger State and recorded multiple seizures and arrests across several states, including the interception of illicit drugs bound for the United States, Canada and Sweden.

The suspect, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, was arrested three weeks after he escaped a raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. NDLEA operatives had earlier, on November 20, raided his home and recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, but Gamboli fled the scene.

Following sustained intelligence-led operations, NDLEA officers tracked and arrested him on Thursday, December 11, at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta. Intelligence reports identified him as a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the Shiroro axis.

In Abia State, NDLEA operatives on December 11 uncovered a clandestine codeine syrup factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma Local Government Area, where 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2 kilograms were recovered.

Across Enugu State, two suspects were arrested with a combined 101.8 kilograms of skunk during separate operations along major roads in the state. In Oyo State, NDLEA raided a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” in Ido, seizing skunk, synthetic cannabis (Colorado) and methamphetamine, while another raid in Ibadan led to the arrest of a woman with 238.4 kilograms of skunk.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the Seme-Badagry corridor intercepted 50,000 pills of tramadol, while similar arrests and seizures of skunk were recorded in Ogun State. In Ondo State, a 55-year-old woman and her son were arrested in Ogbese, Akure North, with 1,187 kilograms of skunk and seeds.

Further operations in Edo and Gombe states led to the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of large quantities of skunk and tramadol capsules.

At courier facilities in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer clothing, destined for the US, Canada and Sweden. At the Apapa Seaport, a joint examination with other security agencies resulted in the seizure of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms.

Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, communities and traditional institutions across several states.

Commending NDLEA commands involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged officers nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach of drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.