The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled at least six major drug trafficking syndicates and arrested nine kingpins in a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations across the country.
According to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, the raids led to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs, firearms, and drug-laced food products in what he described as one of the agency’s most sweeping operations ahead of the festive season.
In Anambra State, two members of a trafficking ring, 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu and 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, were arrested in Onitsha after they attempted to collect consignments containing 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of Loud, 16g of cocaine, 200g of phenacetin, 200g of methcathinone and 100g of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The packages had arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on 13 November and were flagged based on credible intelligence.
A separate operation at the Lagos airport intercepted a brake servo automobile part filled with 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30kg and destined for Gabon. A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, and an auto parts dealer, Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface, were subsequently arrested.
In Kogi State, operatives intercepted a trailer loaded with 4,700kg of skunk at Kabba and arrested three escorts, Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi, while a follow-up raid in Jos, Plateau State, led to the capture of the alleged kingpin, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.
In Cross River State, a couple, 55-year-old Onun Okoi Okpotum and 52-year-old Itam Okoi Okpotum, was arrested at a warehouse in Ugep where officers recovered 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706kg.
In Edo State, two women, Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Emem Oghosa, 25, were arrested in Benin City for producing and selling drug-laced brownies, while another suspect, Shedrack Aminu, was arrested in Ososo village with 59kg of skunk.
Along the Enugu–Onitsha expressway, NDLEA officers arrested 24-year-old Chinoso Emmanuel Monday with 10.1kg of skunk, 105,600 tramadol pills of various strengths, 700 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.
In Kebbi State, officers evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse in Dandi LGA, while 23-year-old Umar Adamu was arrested with 12,548 pills of opioids disguised as paracetamol tablets and allegedly headed for a Boko Haram enclave in Borno State.
Additional arrests were made across the FCT, Niger and Lagos, including 430.5kg of cannabis recovered along the Abaji–Abuja expressway; 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine seized at Dikko junction in Niger State; 471.8kg of skunk seized in Shiroro LGA; 71kg of Canadian Loud recovered from an apartment in Lekki; and 2.6kg of Colorado seized from a woman, Oluchi Celestine, also in Lekki.
A major raid at the notorious Peti drug enclave on Lagos Island resulted in the recovery of 385kg of assorted drugs, while another operation in Maza Maza Motor Park yielded 163,200 capsules of tramadol.
Babafemi added that NDLEA Commands nationwide also sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across several states including Oyo, Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Enugu and Ogun.
Commending officers for the extensive operations, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged continued vigilance as the festive season approaches, noting that traffickers typically attempt to exploit the holiday period for increased drug movement.
Babafemi quoted Marwa as saying: “The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”
He added that the NDLEA will maintain its aggressive, intelligence-driven approach to dismantling drug trafficking networks across Nigeria.
