Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have made significant strides in combating drug trafficking, intercepting three trailer loads of opioids in Lagos State. The haul, comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, was seized at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.
According to Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, three suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizure. The consignments, valued at multi-billion naira, were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal before being transported to a large warehouse at Abule-Ado.
Among those arrested were warehouse agent Cosmas Obiajulu, along with drivers Ridwan Balogun and Banjo Tayo. However, a third driver managed to evade arrest by fleeing the scene.
The agency’s operations extended beyond Lagos, with arrests made in Ekiti, Benue, and Adamawa states. In Ekiti, a 75-year-old man, Jibril Audu, was apprehended with 7.5 kilograms of cannabis, while in Benue, a 70-year-old woman, Tikwase Nytor, was caught with 15.6 kilograms of the same substance.
Further seizures occurred in Lagos, where Nwankwo Ejike and Clinton Akinye were arrested with significant quantities of codeine syrup. Additionally, Adegbola Segun was intercepted with 37.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa in Mile 12 area.
In Adamawa, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of opioids bound for Cameroon, consisting of tramadol pills and various quantities of codeine syrup and Rohypnol. Two suspects, Abubakar Auwal and Adamu Abubakar, were apprehended in connection with the drug trafficking.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers conducted raids in the Iguiye forest, where they destroyed over 11,636 kilograms of cannabis across three farms and recovered an additional 188 kilograms of the substance. Itah Nyong was arrested during the operation.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa, Chairman of NDLEA, commended the officers for their efforts and reiterated the agency’s commitment to collaborating with local and international partners to combat drug trafficking in Nigeria.