The operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recovered 14,481,519 pills of tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup worth over N13 billion in three busts of drug cartels operating in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota, and the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja Lagos State.

The three operations began with the raid of House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin on Sunday, October 29, where 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup measuring 4,510,000mls were recovered.

In a similar operation on October 31, the NDLEA operatives swooped on a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo, located at Onitire, Aguda area of Surulere where 12,700,000 pills of tramadol were recovered.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

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Babafemi added that six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport into the country were arrested and 1,210,000 pills of tramadol seized from them in a painstaking operation that lasted for weeks.

He identified the six suspects already in the NDLEA custody to include Oladele Sanya-Olu, Lawal Itunu Temitope, Sanamo Alla Daniel, Udeh Felix Monday, Musa Mutalib, and Unege Evans Icibor.

The NDLEA spokesman noted that three other suspects – Sarki Mubarak Salami, Abdullahi Aliyu (aka Aboki), and Monday Anwal – are now on the run and wanted by the NDLEA.

Commending the officers of the anti-drug agency for the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain focused as the agency expands its operations against drug cartels.

The Star