The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking, revealing the interception of three trailer loads of opioids in Lagos state. The massive haul comprises 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, with an estimated value in the multi-billion naira range. These illicit substances were discovered at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.
The NDLEA disclosed that the consignments were concealed within two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck, which were initially loaded at the AML bonded terminal, Abule-Osun. Subsequently, they were transported to a large warehouse in Abule-Ado. The agency’s operatives arrested three suspects connected to the seizure, including the warehouse agent and two truck drivers. A third driver managed to evade arrest by fleeing the scene.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives apprehended a suspect named Nwankwo Ejike in the Coker area of Lagos, seizing 100 liters of codeine syrup from him. On the same day, another individual named Clinton Akinye was caught with 60 liters of codeine syrup in the same vicinity.
Additionally, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that a substantial quantity of cannabis sativa, totaling 37.5kg, was intercepted from a suspect named Adegbola Segun at the Mile 12 area of Lagos. Furthermore, a separate consignment of opioids, comprising 59,106 pills of tramadol and various quantities of codeine syrup and Rohypnol, was thwarted along the Mubi-Yola road in Adamawa state. Two suspects linked to the drugs were promptly arrested.
In coordinated efforts across states, NDLEA operatives raided cannabis farms in Ovia North East LGA of Edo state, where over 11,636.185kg of cannabis was destroyed. Additionally, raids in Ekiti and Benue states led to the arrest of individuals in possession of substantial amounts of cannabis.
Chairman of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the commendable efforts of the Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Benue, and Adamawa Commands of the agency. He reiterated NDLEA’s commitment to collaborating with local and international partners to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
