NDLEA Intercepts 85,100 Tramadol Pills In Lagos, 24,146kg Skunk In Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted no fewer than 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids in the Apapa area of Lagos.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the drugs were seized from a trio of Dauda Abubakar; Abdullahi Umar and Ismaila Muhammed on Monday, September 22.

He added that the NDLEA operatives in Abuja the following day Tuesday, Sept. 23, arrested Opeyemi Ogundipe, 40, with 2.1kg Colorado along Abaji- Gwagwalada expressway.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, a suspect Adedamola Olayeni, 56, was on Monday, Sept. 22 arrested with 404 blocks of skunk weighing 262.6kg at the Abuja – Kaduna tollgate.

Babafemi said that the consignment was found in his Honda Pilot jeep marked MKA 499 TT, coming from Osogbo, Osun and heading to Katsina state.

Also, another suspect, Zubairu Haruna, 30, was on Wednesday, Sept. 24 found with 506grams of methamphetamine at the Gwantu – Fadan Karshi check point, Kaduna.

Babafemi said that a follow up operation in Gombe state led to the arrest of the actual receiver of the consignment Babangida Mohammed, 25.

In like manner, Babafemi said that Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

This, he said, included: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of RCM Primary School 1, Igboora, Oyo; Champion International Academy, Enugu-Ezike, Enugu; Government Day Secondary School, Babban-Mutum, Katsina.

“Others are Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos among others.

“The Kogi state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ejeh Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu in Ankpa,”he said.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, FCT and Ekiti Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues nationwide to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

He noted that “the success of the various operations across the country underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security.

“Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities, reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security.”

Meanwhile, the agency destroyed no fewer than 24,146 kg of Skunk in Edo forests.

Babafemi said that NDLEA officers on Tuesday, September 23 destroyed a total of 12,115.6kg of skunk on 4.846244 hectares of cannabis plantation at Uromi forest in Esan West LGA in Edo.

He said two suspects were arrested and 345.5kg of processed substance was evacuated.

Also, at Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, in Edo, 12,031.245kg of the same psychoactive substance was destroyed on Sept. 24 with 106.1kg processed consignment evacuated.

“A truck conveying 82 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal with a total weight of 1,025kg was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Wareke-Auchi road, Etsako West LGA in Edo.”

He said two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

According to him, another two suspects were on Saturday, Sept. 27 arrested by NDLEA operatives along Zaria – Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, Kano state.

Babafemi said that 30,030 pills of tramadol were seized from them.

He also spoke of three suspects arrested by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa on Monday, Sept. 22.

This, he said, was after 12kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis and 50 Diana AAA cartridges were recovered from them.

In the same vein, a 45-year-old ex-convict was on Thursday, Sept. 25 arrested by NDLEA officers at his 24 Oke-Igele street, Ikere Ekiti home.

Babafemi said that the suspect was found in possession of 32kg skunk and 10.5grams of tramadol.

He said that the suspect had been convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for a similar drug trafficking offence in 2016.

The NDLEA also arrested two suspected drug kingpins, Victor Nwosa and Felix Obiegbu for drug trafficking. They were arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the NDLEA.

This, Babafemi said, was after consignments of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine being prepared for export to Europe and beyond were recovered from their Lagos homes.

This, he added, were following weeks of intelligence and surveillance on their criminal networks.

Babafemi, however, said that the 64-year-old Nwosa paraded himself as a successful textile merchant, adding that 49-year-old Obiegbu was known to many as a businessman who was into wine distribution.

According to him, beneath their outward appearance is their hidden illicit drug business unearthed by NDLEA operatives after months of intelligence gathering on the two syndicates led by them.

“At the time they were preparing their consignments for export, NDLEA-SOU operatives who had for months put them under surveillance, swooped on them in different parts of Lagos.

“Nwosa was arrested on Wednesday, September 17 at his 16 Femi Kila street, Okota home where 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine were recovered during a search of his house.

“In his case, Obiegbu was arrested on Thursday 11th September at his 5 Shada Shonefun street, Aguda Surulere home where in the course of a search, 2.902 kilograms of methamphetamine were uncovered and seized,”he said.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives stopped attempts by suspected suppliers of illicit drugs to terrorists and bandits in Borno and Yobe to move illicit drugs concealed in the engine compartment of a Mercedes Benz jeep.

Babafemi also said that a lady’s travelling bag was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives on stop and search operations in the two states.

According to him, in Borno, following weeks of intelligence, NDLEA officers on Saturday arrested Kaka Ibrahim, 26, at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK marked JRE 987 AE towards Damaturu road.

“A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 39, 380 pills of tramadol 225mg and exol-5 stuffed in the engine compartment of the jeep.

“The same day in Yobe state, NDLEA operatives intercepted a lady Halima Adamu along Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

“This is where 39 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.4kg were found concealed inside the casing of her travelling bag.

“A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of another lady linked to the consignment, Habiba Muhammad, at her Baga road, Maiduguri home,” he said.