The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, has successfully seized over four tons of illicit and controlled drugs, including a consignment of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas. The agency’s operatives conducted interdiction operations in Lagos, Kogi, FCT, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Edo states, resulting in the seizure of skunk, codeine syrup, methamphetamine, and tramadol.
In a press statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Mr. Femi BabaFemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the agency, disclosed the details of the seizures. A total of 1,194 cylinders of laughing gas weighing 2,547.2 kilograms were confiscated along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway. These cylinders were loaded in two Toyota Sienna buses and were intended for distribution in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory.
Two suspects, Onyebuchi Ikpozu and Kenneth Igwe, who were transporting the illegal drugs, have been apprehended and taken into custody. Furthermore, a follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of Mrs. Ugo Eluba after a consignment of 2,400 ampules of pentazocine injection and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5, intercepted in Kogi state, was traced back to her.
The agency’s operatives in the FCT also intercepted 977 kilograms of skunk on September 20th during a routine inspection of a trailer marked LSR 343 XW, which initially appeared to be carrying cartons of Maggi seasoning. Investigations revealed that 959 kilograms of the skunk were destined for distribution in Sokoto state, while the rest was intended for Gwagwalada.
“The skunk consignment was loaded into the truck at Ipele junction in Ondo state,” explained BabaFemi. “Four suspects were arrested in connection with this.” In a separate incident on September 23rd, Shuaibu Yusif, 27, and Abubakar Hussaini, 20, were apprehended along the Kano-Hadejia road in Jigawa state with 89.1 kilograms of skunk during a stop and search patrol conducted by NDLEA operatives.
Additionally, numerous suspects were arrested for drug-related offenses in Kaduna, Ogun, Sokoto, and Edo states.
Throughout the week, NDLEA Commands across the country have been carrying out sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centers, schools, workplaces, traditional rulers’ palaces, and communities as part of their ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the affected commands for their impressive arrests and seizures. He also extended his appreciation to his compatriots in all the commands across the country for their tireless efforts in intensifying the WADA advocacy.
