By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’s NATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has doubled its battles against drug trafficking, leading to the arrest of a high-profile Lekki businessman involved in an international narcotics operation.
Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, the owner of Damillionz Takeout, was apprehended while attempting to receive a shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain, smuggled from the United States.
The 43-year-old was taken into custody at Bay Lounge on Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, on 24 March. His arrest followed NDLEA’s interception of his cargo at a logistics company in Lagos on 12 March.
A subsequent search of his residence revealed 94 grams of cannabis, a crusher, and other drug paraphernalia, bringing the total confiscated drugs to 32.24 kilograms. Ebenezer admitted to running his illegal trade since 2017.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos thwarted an attempt by Omoruyi Terry to smuggle 1,400 tramadol pills (225mg) weighing 800 grams to Italy via Qatar Airways.
Investigations identified Terry as a frequent traveler and logistics agent linked to drug syndicates in Europe.
Meanwhile, an intelligence-led raid in Godai village, Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, resulted in the arrest of four individuals—Baraka Abubakar (40), Haruna Alitine (23), Muhammad Babangida (20), and Hamisu Lawal.
Officers recovered 684 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 423kg, alongside 86,000 pills of diazepam.
Abubakar, the only female suspect, was found with large quantities of skunk, while the other three were caught repackaging diazepam into unmarked containers.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed a staggering 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa across multiple forest locations, including Uhen Forest in Ovia North East, Sobe in Owan West, and Amahor Forest in Igueben.
Additionally, 158kg of cannabis was seized for further investigation and prosecution.
Further crackdowns in Niger State saw NDLEA officers intercept a black Toyota Corolla on the Mokwa-Jebba road on 28 March.
The occupants, Paul Christopher (46) and Lucky Star Anumie, were arrested after 179 blocks of compressed skunk, totaling 77.6kg, were found concealed in a hidden compartment.
Another operation in Wawa village, Borgu, led to the seizure of 50kg of cannabis from the home of a fugitive suspect, Isa Iliya.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives recovered 108.5kg of cannabis in Enugu’s Aria New Market on 25 March.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, Abdulrazak Saka was caught with 25kg of cannabis, while in Ibadan, Oyo State, Suli Saheed (50) was arrested with 2.5kg of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grams of Colorado.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA ramped up its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across educational institutions, workplaces, religious centres, and communities.
Schools benefiting from the initiative included Blessed Martins International School in Ebonyi, Model Ideal College in Enugu, Oto-Awori Senior Secondary School in Lagos, and Command Secondary School in Adamawa.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) lauded the agency’s officers for their steadfast commitment to drug interdiction and public education.
He called for continued vigilance against drug abuse adding that the spirit of obedience and sacrifice would continually guide and strengthen all the officers in their pursuit of a safer and healthier society.
