The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in operations conducted across nine states, including synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, opioids and other controlled substances.
The agency also dismantled a Colorado distribution network linked to two consignments shipped from the United Kingdom and arrested several suspects, including a real estate agent and a 44-year-old man accused of receiving drug consignments from relatives in the UK.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment from the UK containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
Babafemi said a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on September 9 after allegedly arriving with a collection code sent by his brother in the UK to retrieve luggage containing the substance.
He added that a follow-up operation involving another UK shipment resulted in the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who allegedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent him the 12.25kg Colorado consignment.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza. The consignment was allegedly being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and subsequently Liberia.
Babafemi said a tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo Park in Lagos, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on September 11 while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the seizure of various controlled substances, including ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam and MDMA. Some of the substances were allegedly concealed inside music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano State, Babafemi said a raid in Sabon Gari resulted in the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect, Saidu Adamu, who was found with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
He added that a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread.
The consignment was allegedly being transported by 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu, who was arrested by the operatives.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The NDLEA also intensified its operations against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of cannabis, locally known as skunk, on farms located in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Edo State.
Babafemi said the operations were carried out across Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas, while a 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on September 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on September 9 and recovered 186kg of skunk allegedly hidden in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested in connection with the seizure. The agency alleged that he was preparing to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. They included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, 44-year-old Motombo Silver, 39-year-old Pere Andrew and 43-year-old Keme Andrew.
Beyond its enforcement operations, the agency said its commands and formations nationwide continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The activities included an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by traditional rulers from Rikkos to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
The Zone 4 Command also conducted a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, MMIA and the affected state commands for the operations.
Marwa urged NDLEA personnel across the country to maintain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
He charged them to continue disrupting the supply networks of drug cartels at airports, seaports, land borders and in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
Source: NDLEA
