The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted a total of four tons of illicit and controlled drugs in a span of one week. This significant accomplishment was made possible through interdiction operations conducted in seven states across Nigeria. The spokesperson for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, made this announcement on Sunday in Abuja.
The seized drugs include laughing gas, skunk, codeine syrup, methamphetamine, and tramadol. Babafemi revealed that these seizures took place in Lagos, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Edo states.
One notable interception involved the confiscation of 1,194 cylinders of laughing gas, weighing a total of 2,547.2 kilograms, from two Toyota Sienna buses on September 22 along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway. The buses, marked KTU 582 HV and FKJ 329 YA, were carrying 99 and 100 cartons of cylinders, respectively, containing the laughing gas.
NDLEA authorities apprehended two individuals, Onyebuchi Ikpozu and Kenneth Igwe, who were transporting the illicit drugs to Abuja for distribution.
In another operation, Mrs. Ugo Eluba, a 48-year-old woman, was arrested in Abuja after 2,400 ampules of pentazocine injection and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5, previously intercepted in Kogi, were traced back to her.
Skunk Intercepted in Abuja
In the FCT, NDLEA operatives discovered and seized 977 kilograms of skunk on September 20. The illicit substance was found concealed in a trailer bearing cartons of maggi and marked LSR 343 XW. The skunk was loaded onto the truck at Ipele junction in Ondo state. Of the total quantity of skunk, 959 kilograms were destined for distribution in Sokoto state, while the rest was intended for Gwagwalada.
The authorities arrested two suspects, Auwal Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar, in relation to this seizure.
Methamphetamine and Tramadol Seizure in FCT
NDLEA officials apprehended two suspects, Mutari Abdulazeez (31) and Ayuba Madaki (28), on September 23 in Zuba, FCT. The suspects were found in possession of different quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, and 13,930 pills of tramadol.
Skunk Recovery in Jigawa and Kaduna
A stop and search operation along the Kano-Hadejia road in Jigawa led to the arrest of two suspects, Shuaibu Yusif (27) and Abubakar Hussaini (20), on September 23. The authorities discovered 89.1 kilograms of skunk in their possession.
Furthermore, 6,000 ampules of pentazocine injection were recovered from Usman Sidi (35) on September 18 along the Abuja-Forest road in Kaduna State. This operation, followed by a subsequent raid in Bauchi, resulted in the arrest of the actual owner of the intercepted consignment, Dominic Chukwuma (35), on September 19. Additionally, 2.58 kilograms of Diazepam and 36.55 kilograms of pentazocine injection were uncovered at Chukwuma’s residence.
Additional Seizures
Other notable interceptions include the arrest of two suspects, Inuwa Nuhu and Isiyaku Dahiru Sani, who were found to be transporting 49 blocks of concealed cannabis sativa weighing 26 kilograms in a commercial vehicle traveling from Ogere in Ogun state to Kano.
In Sokoto state, Mr. Charles Okeke (44) was apprehended with 473 bottles of codeine syrup at the Unguwar Kosai area.
In Edo state, NDLEA operatives recovered 365 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 258 kilograms, from a Toyota Camry car marked KTU 886 EZ in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area.
On another front, NDLEA conducted a massive operation from September 11 to September 13 in Ijesha Isu-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State. This operation involved the destruction of 40 tons of cannabis plants covering 16 hectares of farmland.
This impressive display of law enforcement by NDLEA serves as a reminder of the continued efforts to combat drug smuggling and abuse within Nigeria.
NAN
