VIDEO: NDLEA intercepts drugs hidden in bus bumper

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills concealed in the bumper and false bottom of Sienna buses heading to border towns.

Following weeks of intelligence and surveillance operations by the operatives of the Directorate of Intelligence in the NDLEA, a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted at Nasarawa-Toto Road, Keffi in Nasarawa State, on January 27, 2025.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, February 16.

Babafemi said the illicit drugs were intercepted at about 6 a.m., adding that two suspects – 27-year-old Zahradeen Adamu, and Abubakar Usman, 44 – were arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha in Anambra State en route Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

Babafemi revealed that a second Sienna bus driven by 48-year-old Abba Usman was also intercepted by the NDLEA officers.

He stated: “During a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumper where a total of 190, 960 pills of tramadol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.

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“Investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra State-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of Mbaeri at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on 29th January.

“Two vehicles: A Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house.”

Babafemi said the operatives of the Intelligence Department, in another interdiction, intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha in Anambra State at Abaji checkpoint in Abuja on February 4.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that a 32-year-old passenger in the bus, Chimezie Ojingwa, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag was arrested.

“When his bag was searched, 404.47grams of methamphetamine, 506.49grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis and 262.32grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, all of which were concealed in the motor parts, were recovered,” he stated.

Commending the officers for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

See the video below:

The Star