The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of synthetic cannabis, opioids and other illicit drugs concealed in consolidated cargoes, music speakers and loaves of bread in operations across eight states.
The agency said its operatives recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in the operations conducted in Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano States.
In Lagos, two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, were intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
One of the consignments contained 27 parcels of Colos weighing 32.20kg, while a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after allegedly arriving to collect a large luggage containing the drug with a secret collection code relayed by his brother based in the United Kingdom.
A follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of its designated recipient, 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who was to receive 12.25kg of Colos. The agency said Kadiri told investigators that his brother in the UK had sent the consignment to him.
Also in Lagos, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza.
The consignment was reportedly headed for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia. A tour agent, 41-year-old Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, and the owner of the consignment, 46-year-old Obasi Ugochuckwu, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo Motor Park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
The NDLEA said several of the drugs were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano State, operatives raided a location in Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
In another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road, 1,700 tablets of diazepam were recovered after being concealed inside loaves of bread. The drugs were allegedly being conveyed by 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also intensified its operations against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk from cannabis farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operation on Friday, September 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9, and recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car marked ABJ 917 FV.
The agency said the drugs were recovered from 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, who was allegedly planning to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. They include 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, 44-year-old Motombo Silver, 39-year-old Pere Andrew and 43-year-old Keme Andrew.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged the operatives to continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
He also commended the DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands for the successful operations.