The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs concealed in building materials and arrested several suspects, including a 75-year-old man and four female drug dealers, in a series of operations across the country.
The agency said one of its major breakthroughs occurred in Taraba State, where operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a truck transporting building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.
According to the NDLEA, a thorough search of the vehicle at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo uncovered a large quantity of opioids hidden beneath the cargo. The driver’s assistant, Buhari Abdullahi, 22, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Recovered from the truck were 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 tablets of Rohypnol and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
In Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Okebe Samuel, in Okposi. The agency said the suspect was found in possession of 300 grams of skunk allegedly packaged in sachets for retail distribution to youths in the community.
Similarly, in Imo State, operatives raided a drug hotspot in Umulolo, Orlu, leading to the arrest of a suspected drug dealer, Chioma Okeke, 32. About eight kilograms of skunk were recovered during the operation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives carried out raids on several identified drug joints in Benin City on June 2, resulting in the arrest of four suspects, including three women.
At Uyosa, Benin City, officers arrested Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, with 176 grams of skunk, 65 grams of Loud and five grams of methamphetamine. Another suspect, Anita Abraham, 21, was apprehended along Agbor Road with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.
In a separate operation at Upper Mission, Benin City, operatives arrested Henry Okey, 43, who was allegedly found with quantities of Loud, Colorado, Swinol and methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, in Kano State, NDLEA officers arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan in the Kafi area of Madobi on June 4. He was reportedly caught with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilograms.
In Gombe State, operatives intercepted Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, 28, near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area on June 1. He was allegedly found in possession of 15,000 capsules of tramadol.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it had continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools across the country.
The campaign reached students and staff of Holiness Foundation Primary School in Saki, Oyo State; Dorras High School in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State; Ado Girls Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State; and Army Day Secondary School in Kano State, among others.
Reacting to the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the Taraba, Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe State commands for their vigilance and professionalism.
Marwa also praised the agency’s personnel nationwide for sustaining efforts aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across the country, stressing that traffickers would continue to be pursued regardless of their age, gender or methods of concealment.
