Drug lords on the run! NDLEA raids warehouses, busts smugglers in national offensive

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has ramped up its efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria, with a series of high-profile arrests and seizures reported in multiple states over the past week.

In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, detailed the agency’s recent operations, highlighting the seizure of large quantities of illicit substances and the arrest of several suspects.

In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducted intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa on July 30, apprehending three dispatch riders-Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28), for distributing 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.

On August 2, along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway, two additional suspects, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were arrested with 91.1 kilograms of skunk, another cannabis variant.

In Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Joseph Michael on August 2 in Mushin with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya, Yaba, on August 1 with 16.5 liters of skuchies, a liquid mixture often containing codeine or other opioids.

Significant seizures were also reported in other states. In Benue, 100,000 tramadol capsules were confiscated from Hussein Yusuf (37) at a checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road on August 1. In Edo, a raid on a warehouse in Ekpoma led to the arrest of William Alabi (44) and the recovery of 233.5 kilograms of skunk.

In Borno, NDLEA operatives at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri intercepted 160 tramadol pills concealed in footwear, arresting passenger Umar Aminu (38) on August 1.

Further operations in Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Kano, and Osun states yielded additional arrests and seizures.

In Ogun, Yahaya Aminat Seyi was arrested with 7,218 opioid pills, primarily tramadol, while in Oyo, Oladeji Saka (54) was nabbed with 77.5 kilograms of skunk.

In Delta, Benson Izah (40) was arrested with 12.5 kilograms of skunk, 1 kilogram of tramadol, and 14.4 liters of codeine.

In Bayelsa, Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were apprehended with 41,705 tramadol capsules and other opioids. In Kano, Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested with 61 kilograms of skunk, and in Osun, Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) were detained with 90 kilograms of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash.

Femi Babafemi stated, “While commending the officers and men of the the various Commands for the arrests, seizures, and their dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.”