The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than N3.4 billion in coordinated operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory, arresting a suspected fake police officer and other alleged drug traffickers.
The agency said its operations resulted in the seizure of more than 1.3 million tablets of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis in different locations across the country.
One of the biggest seizures involved 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81 billion. The consignment was intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos after arriving from Montreal, Canada, on September 12.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside a 40-foot container. The container was subjected to a joint examination involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, identified as Innocent Ekpe, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba. He was allegedly transporting 292.48kg of cannabis, commonly known as skunk, in a Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency alleged that Ekpe had been impersonating a Deputy Superintendent of Police and using a forged police identification card to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints. Another suspect, identified as 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested in connection with the operation.
In Edo State, operatives raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, following intelligence on alleged drug activities. A 45-year-old man, Matthew Ossai, was arrested, while 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine were recovered from the premises.
A major seizure of pharmaceutical opioids was also recorded along the Abaji-Abuja Highway. Two suspects were arrested with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets. The drugs were allegedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
Other operations were conducted in Lagos, Niger, Gombe, Imo and Ondo states.
In Lagos, 48,900 tablets of tramadol were recovered from a suspect in Aguda, Surulere, while another suspect was arrested after 59kg of cannabis was intercepted at a logistics company.
At Apongbo, also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas from a suspect.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market. Another suspect was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85kg of cannabis.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest. The operation led to the destruction of a cannabis crop estimated at 5,000kg, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.
The agency also reported the arrest of three suspects along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger State, where locally fabricated firearms and ammunition were allegedly recovered. The suspects were said to have been carrying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain intelligence-led efforts against drug trafficking and distribution.
The latest seizures underline the scale of the illicit drug trade facing Nigerian authorities, while the wide geographic spread of the operations shows the agency’s continued focus on disrupting supply chains at ports, highways, warehouses, farms and other distribution points.
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