NDLEA seizes over 2.3 tonnes of illicit drugs nationwide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says its operatives have recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in raids and interdiction operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The seizures included hundreds of thousands of Pregabalin capsules, cannabis, Colorado, tramadol, codeine syrup, pentazocine, diazepam, flunitrazepam and MDMA.

The agency also arrested several suspects, including a 70-year-old woman, a real estate agent and a 20-year-old man, in the operations carried out in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Kaduna, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Delta states.

In Kano, operatives raiding Sabon Gari arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 Pregabalin capsules weighing 669.425kg.

Along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road, officers also intercepted 1,700 diazepam tablets allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old man, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Katako Market, Jos, Plateau State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 tramadol capsules.

Bayelsa recorded another major seizure after NDLEA officers arrested four suspects at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.

One of those arrested was 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye. The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.

In Kaduna, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.

NDLEA operatives in Ondo State also recovered 186kg of cannabis allegedly concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure.

The agency said 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala was arrested in connection with the seizure and was allegedly preparing to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.

In Edo State, NDLEA personnel destroyed 4,832.56kg of cannabis on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest, while 39-year-old Sunday Segun was arrested during the operation.

Delta State operatives also seized assorted controlled substances, including pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam and MDMA. Some of the substances were allegedly concealed inside music speakers, while Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi were arrested.

The agency said its operations also extended to Lagos, where officers intercepted Colorado shipments from the UK and recovered additional consignments concealed in music speakers.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved and urged them to sustain operations against drug trafficking networks.

Marwa also called for continued efforts to block drug supply routes through airports, seaports, land borders and areas where illicit cannabis is cultivated.

Beyond enforcement, the agency said its commands continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign during the week, with outreach programmes held in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities in Kano, Cross River, Plateau and Nasarawa states.