By Joke Kujenya
IN AN EXTENSIVE display of enforcement prowess, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted multiple drug trafficking attempts in various regions of Nigeria.
The agency notes that this underscores its relentless commitment to curbing illicit drug activities.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted Emmanuel Okechuku Orjinze, a 48-year-old Paris-bound businessman heading to France.
Orjinze’s ingestion of 111 wraps of cocaine was uncovered during routine security procedures, leading to his subsequent arrest and the seizure of the illicit substance.
Simultaneously, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA officers dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking syndicate, culminating in the apprehension of four individuals and the confiscation of substantial quantities of methamphetamine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Further illustrating NDLEA’s untiring tenacity, a freight agent named Sonubi Mariam Abiodun was caught attempting to smuggle cocaine concealed within innocuous-looking paint buckets destined for export to the United Kingdom (UK).
Additionally, in coordinated operations across various states including Cross River, Katsina, and Edo, NDLEA teams executed raids resulting in the arrest of numerous suspects and the seizure of significant quantities of illicit substances.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, in a Sunday 26th May 2024 dated release, notes that concurrent with these enforcement actions, NDLEA commands nationwide have intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, conducting targeted sensitization lectures in schools and communities to raise awareness about the perils of substance abuse.
In his usual encouragement, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtrd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, lauded the exceptional efforts of the agency’s personnel, stressing the pivotal role of ongoing advocacy initiatives in combating the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking.
