The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted several consignments of cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and other psychotropic substances in a series of operations across nine states.
The operations were carried out in Lagos, Adamawa, Ondo, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ekiti, Kogi, Taraba and Enugu states as the agency intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking and illicit distribution networks.
The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Damilu and Jambutu axis in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, recovered 864,000 opioid pills on Friday.
According to Babafemi, the drugs, which included tramadol, were recovered from a residence linked to a suspect who fled after his Honda Civic car rammed into an NDLEA patrol vehicle.
In a separate operation in the Michika area of the state, operatives arrested a suspected major methamphetamine supplier who allegedly transported the substance from Lagos to the Mubi and Michika axis. The suspect was arrested on Friday with 2kg of methamphetamine.
Babafemi also reported another seizure involving 750,027,530 pills of tramadol and other opioids concealed in a soap-laden Ford Galaxy bus. The vehicle, marked JJM-953XD, was intercepted at the Namtari checkpoint on Monday, August 31.
In Lagos State, NDLEA operatives recovered 2,386.9kg of cannabis, 350g of cocaine, more than 100kg of various grades of tramadol, 9.7 litres of codeine syrup and 4kg of Rohypnol at the Gbaji area on Friday. Two suspects were also arrested at Agbara after operatives intercepted them with 720kg of cannabis.
The agency said the seizures formed part of its continued efforts to disrupt the movement and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.
In Kogi State, three suspects were arrested after NDLEA operatives intercepted a bus transporting 636kg of cannabis.
The drugs were concealed in bags of chicken manure aboard the vehicle, which was travelling from Owo in Ondo State to Jos, Plateau State, along the Okene-Lokoja highway.
The interception highlights the various concealment methods allegedly being used by traffickers to move illicit substances between states.
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In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 58-year-old suspected drug trafficker along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area.
Babafemi said the suspect was found with more than 109kg of a mixture of controlled substances, including tramadol, diazepam, pentazocine, phenobarbital, Exol-5, nitrazepam, bromazepam and pregabalin.
The drugs were allegedly being transported in a Toyota Corolla marked KUJ-333BT from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.
Along the Zaria-Kano Expressway, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck loaded with bags of cement and recovered 1,179kg of skunk.
The agency said the seizure was part of its operations targeting the movement of cannabis and other illicit substances along major transportation routes.
In Bauchi State, a suspect was also arrested during a follow-up operation after the agency seized 322.5kg of cannabis at Deba town in Gombe State on Tuesday.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives uncovered and destroyed a four-hectare cannabis farm in Efon-Alaaye forest.
Two suspects were arrested during the operation, while 117kg of already-harvested cannabis, locally known as skunk, was recovered. The destruction of the farm is expected to disrupt local cultivation and supply of cannabis in the area.
In Enugu State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday arrested a 20-year-old suspected drug peddler at Ugbema Junction.
The suspect was found with 40,590 capsules of tramadol. The latest seizures come as the NDLEA continues nationwide operations against the cultivation, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs.
The agency has repeatedly warned traffickers and their associates that it will continue to target drug supply chains, from cultivation and production to transportation and street-level distribution.
NAN
