The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N3.4bn and arrested several suspects in operations across different states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said its operatives recovered more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000kg of cannabis in the latest operations.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
In Lagos, the agency intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 603.75kg and estimated at N1.81bn at the Tin-Can Island Port.
Babafemi said the consignment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.
He said NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, conducted a physical examination of the container on September 16.
The search, according to him, uncovered the cannabis concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles placed in the 40-foot container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who was allegedly impersonating a senior police officer while transporting illicit drugs.
Ekpe was arrested along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk allegedly concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
Babafemi said investigation showed that the suspect allegedly posed as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested during the operation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested a 45-year-old mechanic, Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which it alleged was being used as a cover for storing illicit drugs.
In Niger State, three suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area.
The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
Also, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
Babafemi said operatives recovered more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets from the suspects.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks and were being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons containing 59kg of cannabis were intercepted at a logistics company.
The NDLEA also arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos, where 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market respectively.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The operation also led to the destruction of a 5,000kg cannabis farm covering two hectares, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered, according to the agency.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
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Commending the personnel involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain intelligence-driven operations against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa also called for continued efforts aimed at maintaining what he described as a balanced approach to drug control across the country.
