NDLEA intercepts UK, Australia-bound cocaine, opioid consignments in carton walls
NDLEA Intercepts Drug Shipments and Conducts Raids Across Nigeria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported significant drug seizures, including consignments of cocaine and opioids. Operatives intercepted these drugs concealed within cartons meant for shipment to the United Kingdom and Australia.
On Friday, authorities made the two seizures at a courier company in Lagos during routine examinations of outbound packages. A total of 170 grams of cocaine, wrapped in cellophane and hidden in cloth cartons, were seized from shipments destined for Australia. Additionally, a range of opioids was confiscated from another package bound for the UK. This included 200 ampoules of pentazocine, 1,100 tramadol capsules, and 100 ampoules of promethazine.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed the details in a statement released on Sunday.
In a separate operation in Delta State, NDLEA agents raided Ejeonu village in the Ukwuani local government area on Sunday, where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk on 11 hectares of farmland. A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of 52-year-old Ifeanyichukwu Peter. Another raid in Orogun village led to the destruction of an additional 37,500 kilograms of skunk on 15 hectares and the apprehension of 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera. In total, NDLEA operatives, assisted by military personnel, have destroyed 65,000 kilograms of skunk in recent operations.
Moreover, authorities recovered 361 kilograms of skunk in a raid in Zaria town, Kaduna State, on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of a suspect named Husaini Suleiman. On Tuesday, NDLEA officers patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted a considerable cache of military-grade ammunition, apprehending 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan, who was found transporting 1,989 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed in fresh cassava granules. Both the suspect and the ammunition have been transferred to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter, who allegedly produced drug-laced cakes and cookies for social events. Following credible intelligence, he was detained in the Life Camp area, where authorities recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.7 kilograms of the drug-laced products.
In Ogun State, a suspect named Aliyu Sani was arrested on Wednesday with 181 kilograms of skunk, while 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa was taken into custody on Thursday in Taraba State. He was found with 105,850 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
In Oyo State, two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were arrested on Thursday in connection with the seizure of 99 liters of skuchies. Additionally, NDLEA officers destroyed 1,388.4 kilograms of skunk on two farms on Friday in Edo State.
Furthermore, authorities recovered 1.2 kilograms of tramadol concealed in palm oil at Kofar Ruwa motor park in Kano, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Aminu Isa, who was found with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s operatives across various states for their efforts in arresting suspects and seizing drugs over the past week. He also recognized their dedication to balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction initiatives.
