The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted syndicates of varying quantities of cocaine and opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection, among others concealed in soles of shoes, clothes and more crooked options bound for the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus.
About 250 grams of cocaine going to Cyprus was hidden in soles of custom-made shoes, and over five kilograms of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, in clothes and some household items meant to be shipped through courier firms in Lagos.
A spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi disclosed on Monday, 15 July: “In the same vein, a consignment of 440 grams of loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis coming from Canada to Lagos was equally intercepted by operatives in one of the logistic companies.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on July 10, 2024, intercepted a vehicle marked Abuja GWA 273 DD at Ewu junction, Esan Central LGA following credible intelligence. The luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was searched and found to contain custard containers, where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder. In his statement, the suspect claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra State and he was taking them to the Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to sell.
“In another operation, operatives on July 11, raided the Ohen forest, Abudu area of Edo and destroyed 5,429.751kg of cannabis on 2.918 hectares of farmlands where four suspects: Godday Ariye, 37; Friday Okafor, 59; Obinna Nwosu, 48; and Yusuf Adamu, 27, were arrested. Similarly, 300 kilograms of the same substance were recovered from Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West LGA when NDLEA officers raided the location on July 13.
“In Ogun State, operatives on July 9, recovered a total of 2,865 kilograms of cannabis at Afami Ibese while the suspected owner, Umar Ibese is currently at large.
“At least, 2,455 kilograms of materials for the production of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance (NPS), were recovered from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga LGA, Borno state on July 9, when NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with men of the Nigerian Army raided the area.
“The following day, July 10, operatives in Katsina state arrested a 54-year-old Sabo Sule with 47kg cannabis in Katsina town.
“In Lagos, operatives on July 8, raided a warehouse in VGC, Lekki where they recovered 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide popularly called ‘laughing gas’; 108 cartons of a fast gas cylinder; 134 pieces of balloon and 109 cartons of infusion charger, among others.
“A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam was arrested in connection with the seizure”.
