The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N3.4bn and arrested several suspects, including a man accused of impersonating a police officer, in operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The seizures included more than 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, about 6,000kg of cannabis and other illicit substances.
The agency also intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81bn at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said the shipment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by the agency.
He said the container was subjected to a joint physical examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.
The search uncovered the 1,200 parcels concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the 40-foot container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs.
Ekpe was arrested on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
Babafemi said investigation showed that Ekpe had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card.
He said a 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old 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 front 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, Tafa Local Government Area.
According to Babafemi, the suspects were 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.
Similarly, 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 while being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, 48,900 pills 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 agency 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.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid and destruction of a 5,000kg cannabis farm covering two hectares in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
Babafemi said 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for prosecution.
Commending the officers and men of the affected commands, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa also called for the continuation of what he described as a balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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