National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 884kg of cocaine and “Colorado’’ smuggled from South Africa and Canada, at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
“Colorado’’ is a strong strain of Indian hemp.
NDELA’s spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday in Abuja disclosed that the drugs were concealed in two containers of household items.
He explained that the interception followed coordinated intelligence gathering and months of tracking of the containers by three special units of the NDLEA.
The agency spokesman added that the illicit drugs were seized alongside arms, ammunition, sundry military effects and chemicals in kegs.
Babafemi stated that the joint inspection yielded four pistols, 197 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 275 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
He further explained that NDLEA operatives and men of the Nigeria Customs Service conducted the examination of the containers jointly on Thursday and on Friday.
Babafemi noted that sniffer dogs assisted in the discovery of the cocaine and “Colorado’’ wrapped in 1,274 parcels.
NDLEA and the Customs Service also intercepted a third container in which 32.5kg of “Colorado’’ were smuggled in used vehicles imported from Canada.
Babafemi added that NDLEA had arrested a 41-year-old suspect linked with the container.
Meanwhile, NDLEA has seized 5, 653,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and exol-5 from three suspects in Kano State.
Babafemi in a statement disclosed that that Nura Abdullahi, 38, and Tahir Muhammad Mukhtar, 42, were arrested at Bacharawa area of Kano with 5, 404,000 pills of tramadol 250mg on Jan. 14.
He said that Yusuf Umar, 50, was also nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state on Jan. 13, with 249,000 tablets of exol-5 by NDLEA operatives.
Also, in Lagos, two suspects — Ali Abubakar and Murtala Sani were arrested at Ojodu Berger area of the state on Jan. 16, with 110kg of Indian hemp.
Babafemi added that 69kg of same substance was recovered from the hideout of a fleeing suspect in Akerele, Surulere on the same day.
Also, not less than 2, 800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup were recovered by NDLEA officers on Jan. 20, during a raid operation at Aleita, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“The suspected owner of the consignment, Jideofor Sochima is still at large.
“A total of 100, 510 pills of opioids were seized from a suspect, Ike Emmanuel, 35, on Thursday Jan. 18 at Dan-Anacha village, Taraba state.
“NDLEA operatives in Abia state arrested 60-year-old Joseph Isiguzoro, as well as Emmanuel Eugene and Malachi Ndu in parts of Abia state with 34,200 pills of opioids.
“Isiguzoro was equally found with monetary exhibit totalling N2,885,045 only”, he said.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending officers and men of Kano, Lagos, FCT, and Abia commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week.
Marwa charged them to maintain the “flame of collaboration” with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.
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