The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made several significant drug seizures in recent days, targeting various forms of illegal substances and thwarting attempts to smuggle them internationally and within Nigeria. Here’s a summary of the recent operations:
- Cocaine Concealment:
- September 3, 2024: 30 parcels of cocaine (1.1 kg) concealed in hair cream containers were intercepted at a logistics company in Lagos, destined for Ireland.
- September 6, 2024: 24 parcels of cocaine (862 grams) hidden in hair cream containers were seized, meant for delivery to the UK.
- Pharmaceutical Opioids:
- September 3, 2024: 525 pills of tramadol 225mg and ecstasy (MDMA) concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos, intended for Cyprus.
- September 4, 2024: 200 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injections, hidden in food items and herbs, were seized at another courier firm, heading to London, UK.
- Tramadol Shipment:
- September 6, 2024: A consignment of tramadol 225mg concealed in granulated melon, coming from Cameroon and headed to South Africa, was intercepted.
- Port Harcourt:
- September 2, 2024: 550,000 pills of tramadol were intercepted at Port Harcourt International Airport from a shipment arriving from Delhi, India. A suspect has been arrested.
- Ekiti State:
- September 3-4, 2024: NDLEA operatives, supported by the Nigerian Army, destroyed over 100,000 kg of cannabis across 51 hectares of farmland in the Ise-Ekiti forest reserve.
- Arrests in Northern Nigeria:
- September 6, 2024:
- Bala Musa (42) and Danladi Muhammad (44) were arrested with 305 kg of cannabis in a bus along Toro-Jos road, Kaduna.
- Aminu Ayuba (24) was apprehended with 18 kg of cannabis in Makarfi town.
- Umar Usman (40) and Zubairu Kabiru (45) were arrested with 1,300 tablets of tramadol along Zaria-Kaduna highway.
- September 6, 2024:
- Other States:
- Jigawa: Uzairu Ya’u (30) was caught with 32.6 kg of cannabis on September 5.
- Kogi: On September 5, 77,300 pills of tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5, plus 1,230 bottles of codeine, were seized from a commercial bus.
- Mohammed Idris (56) was arrested on September 3 with 42.4 kg of cannabis along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway.
- Borno: Idris Muhammad (40) was arrested on September 5 with 13,100 pills of tramadol in Maiduguri.
- Kano: Hakilu Usman (35) was nabbed on September 4 with 25.8 kg of cannabis and 3,000 pills of diazepam.
These operations highlight the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse both within Nigeria and internationally. The agency continues to call on the public to provide any useful information that could aid in further arrests and seizures.
