NDLEA Seizes N3.4bn Worth of Drugs, Arrests Fake Police Officer
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N3.4 billion in operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The seizures included more than 1.3 million tramadol and other opioid tablets and capsules, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis.
The agency also arrested several suspects, including a man accused of impersonating a senior police officer while allegedly transporting illicit drugs.
NDLEA intercepts Canadian Loud at Lagos port
At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The agency valued the seized consignment at about N1.81 billion.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the shipment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12.
According to him, the agency placed the container under surveillance after receiving intelligence about its contents.
A joint examination involving NDLEA officials, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies was carried out on September 16.
The search reportedly uncovered the cannabis inside 31 black jumbo bags.
The bags were concealed in two Toyota Sienna vehicles loaded inside the 40-foot container.
Suspect allegedly posed as police officer
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man identified as Innocent Ekpe.
He was arrested along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk, a form of cannabis.
The drugs were allegedly concealed inside his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
NDLEA said its investigation indicated that Ekpe had allegedly been posing as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The agency also alleged that he used a forged police identification card to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints.
A second suspect, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
Drugs recovered from auto workshop
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road in Benin City.
A 45-year-old man, Matthew Ossai, was arrested during the operation.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop.
NDLEA alleged that the facility was being used as a storage location for illicit drugs.
Tramadol worth millions intercepted
In Niger State, three suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area.
They were identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18.
NDLEA said the suspects were found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine and a locally made pistol with a magazine.
Nine rounds of 9mm ammunition were also reportedly recovered.
The weapons were allegedly concealed inside a black travel bag.
More than one million tablets recovered
On the Abaji-Abuja Highway, NDLEA operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.
The arrests were made on Friday during an operation based on intelligence.
According to the agency, the suspects were allegedly transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules.
Other substances recovered included codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were allegedly concealed inside eight sacks.
NDLEA said the consignment was being transported from Onitsha in Anambra State to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
More arrests in Lagos
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg from a suspect identified as Onyeka Ofor.
Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after NDLEA intercepted seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg at a logistics company.
The agency said the latest operations formed part of its continuing efforts to disrupt the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.