By Joke Kujenya
THE NATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its battle against drug trafficking with the interception of three trailer loads of opioids in Lagos state.
The seizure, comprising a staggering three million four hundred and fifty thousand pills and three hundred and forty-four thousand bottles of codeine syrup, underscores the magnitude of the illicit drug trade in the region.
According to Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, the multi-billion-naira consignments were discovered loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal in Abule-Osun, near the International Trade Fair complex.
The operation culminated in the arrest of three suspects at a large warehouse in Abule-Ado on Thursday, 9th May 2024.
The apprehended individuals include Cosmas Obiajulu, 51, the warehouse agent, as well as Ridwan Balogun, 25, and Banjo Tayo, 30, both drivers of the seized trucks.
However, a third driver managed to evade capture by fleeing the scene.
In a series of coordinated operations, NDLEA operatives also made arrests in the Coker area of Lagos on Tuesday, 7th May, seizing 100 liters of codeine syrup from Nwankwo Ejike and 60 liters from Clinton Akinye. Additionally, Adegbola Segun, 47, was caught with 37.5kg of cannabis sativa in a Toyota Camry intercepted at Mile 12 area on Monday, 6th May.
Further interdictions occurred along the Mubi-Yola road in Adamawa state, where NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of opioids destined for Garua, Cameroon.
The seizure included 59,106 pills of tramadol and various quantities of codeine syrup and rohypnol.
Two suspects, Abubakar Auwal, 39, and Adamu Abubakar, 25, were arrested in connection with the trafficking attempt.
Meanwhile, in Edo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Iguiye forest in Ovia North-East LGA, where they destroyed over 11,636.185kg of cannabis across three farms spanning 4.654474 hectares.
They also recovered an additional 188kg of the substance, leading to the arrest of suspect Itah Nyong.
The agency’s operations extended to apprehending elderly individuals involved in drug trafficking. Jibril Audu, 75, was arrested with 7.5 kilograms of cannabis in Ekiti state on Friday, 10th May, while Tikwase Nytor, 70, was nabbed with 15.6kg of the same substance in Benue state on Thursday, 9th May.
In tandem with its enforcement efforts, NDLEA conducted the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns across various states. These initiatives aimed to sensitize diverse communities, including schools, markets, and worship centers, on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, lauded the commendable efforts of the agency’s commands across Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Benue, and Adamawa states.
He affirmed the commitment of NDLEA to collaborate with local and international partners to mitigate the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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