The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant seizures of illicit drugs across several states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Borno, Jigawa, Kwara, Kaduna, Ekiti, Edo, Kano, Delta, Oyo, Benue, Lagos, and Ondo. According to a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency’s efforts to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs to terror groups have yielded substantial results.
In Borno state, NDLEA operatives intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol, including diazepam, concealed in sacks of charcoal and animal feeds in a public transport vehicle coming from Potiskum, Yobe. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner. Similarly, a female suspect was arrested in Mokwa, Niger state, in connection with the seizure of 78,500 pills of tramadol in Kwara state.
In Ekiti, two suspected drug peddlers, including a 72-year-old man, were arrested with 62 kilograms of skunk. In Edo, a village head and another suspect were taken into custody by the NDLEA after soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, Benin City, raided a location in Esan South East LGA, where 681kg of skunk and 181kg of cannabis seeds were recovered.
Other seizures and arrests were made in Kano, Oyo, Benue, FCT, Lagos, Delta, and Ondo states, with various quantities of illicit substances, including tramadol, pentazocine injection, skuchies, and codeine syrup, being recovered. The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men involved in the operations, urging them to maintain their professionalism in drug supply reduction and demand reduction activities.
The seizures and arrests demonstrate the NDLEA’s commitment to disrupting the illicit drug trade in Nigeria and highlight the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to address the country’s drug problem. The agency’s efforts are crucial in reducing the availability of illicit drugs and mitigating their impact on public health and security.
