By Olaide Ajibola, JKNMedia Reporter
SIGNIFICANT SEIZURES of illicit drugs valued at over Two Billion One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Naira (N2,185,000,000.00) in various locations across Nigeria have been intercepted on Sunday by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
A substantial consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in eight suitcases, as the narcotics, totaling 164.50kg and estimated at N960,000,000.00, got apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja.
NDLEA operatives intercepted that batch as it arrived from Canada via Amsterdam, Netherlands.
It was disclosed that the suspect, identified as Ughenu Nnaife Francis, attempted to smuggle the drugs into the country but was caught during a joint search operation by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.
In a separate operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, a container imported from India was intercepted.
Upon examination, NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies discovered 1,750 cartons of codeine, weighing 26,250kg and valued at N1,225,000,000.00.
The opioid was destined for Enugu but was intercepted before reaching its final destination.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested Blessing Thomas, 25, with 1.0kg of methamphetamine along the Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway in Abuja. Additionally, Muhammadu Ibrahim, a 70-year-old grandfather, was apprehended in Lafia, Nasarawa state, with 57.2kg of cannabis.
In Ekiti state, Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested during a raid on Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered. The operatives also destroyed over 4,000kg of the same substance on farmland.
In Katsina state, Suleman Audu, 29, a Nigerien national, was apprehended along the Zaria-Malumfashi road with 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg.
In addition to these operations, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities nationwide. Various educational institutions and communities were targeted, including Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka, Anambra state; All Saints Church School, Jericho Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo state; Western Marine College, Ajido, Badagry, Lagos; and Government Girls Secondary School, Buden Gari, Bichi, Kano state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men involved in the successful operations. He emphasized the importance of vigilance and collaboration among agencies and stakeholders in the ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
