2nd June, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2,185,000,000.00 in street value at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesman, in a statement on Sunday said at the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May, 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.
He said the consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria.
“During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of N6 million,” Babafemi explained.
The NDLEA’s spokesman said at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, operatives on Monday 27th May intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.
“During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered,” he said.
Babafemi further disclosed that in Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway on Friday 31st May while travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa State.
“In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa state on Wednesday 29th May nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather,
Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.
“Two suspects: Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti in Ekiti state where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000kg of same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday 30th May.
“In Katsina state,76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria – Malumfashi road on Wednesday 29th May,” he disclosed.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have in no small measure reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigerian communities.
He charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.