The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, arresting a 75-year-old grandfather in Anambra, destroying a massive 178,750 kilograms of skunk in Taraba State, and intercepting hundreds of thousands of opioid pills across multiple states.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, arresting a 75-year-old grandfather in Anambra, destroying a massive 178,750 kilograms of skunk in Taraba State, and intercepting hundreds of thousands of opioid pills across multiple states.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, noting that the operations were part of ongoing efforts to “cripple drug cartels and cut off supplies feeding addiction, crime and insurgency.”
According to the agency, 75-year-old Uchelue Ikechukwu was arrested in Umudioka, Dunukofia LGA of Anambra with 26.7kg of skunk, while five others were apprehended in Nkwelle and Amichi with varying quantities of illicit substances.
In Taraba, operatives stormed a 71.5-hectare cannabis farm in Mayodoga forest, Sardauna LGA, destroying 178,750kg of skunk and arresting 30-year-old Alfa Andrew, who was caught with a Dane gun. The raid was carried out with support from the Nigerian Army, the Forest Security Service, vigilantes, and local youths.
Equally significant was the interception of 104,900 tramadol capsules hidden inside a fuel tanker at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate, Kaduna. NDLEA said the consignment was suspected to be heading to insurgents in Borno State. A suspect, Hassan Buba, was arrested.
Babafemi revealed that in Maiduguri, operatives arrested a major supplier, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, recovering 30,640 pills of tramadol, 7,940 rohypnol tablets, and cash totaling N7.99 million in fresh N200 notes.
“This is yet another proof that NDLEA operatives are closing in on the criminal supply chain of illicit drugs fueling insecurity and public health crises,” Babafemi stated.
Other major seizures during the week included:”Nasarawa & Lafia: 79,040 pills of tramadol and diazepam seized from Abubakar Dauda; another 30,410 tramadol and rohypnol tablets plus 38 bottles of codeine-based syrup recovered from Babangida Tungura.
”Gombe & Adamawa: 15,000 tramadol capsules hidden in animal feed sacks intercepted at Gombe Mega Park; 58kg skunk disguised in sacks of pepper linked to Hamisu Abdullahi.
”Kano: Over 250,000 exol-5 tablets seized alongside 33kg skunk from multiple suspects across Ungogo, Gadan Tamburawa, and along Kano-Hadeja road.
”Ekiti: NDLEA described the seizure of 5.3kg of Loud and Colorado, plus 2.5g meth, from kingpin Ajayi Ayodeji Idowu as “the single largest bust of such strains in the state.”
Edo, Lagos & Ondo: Multiple raids netted over 340kg of opioids and cannabis, with suspects arrested in Ewu-Auchi road, Mushin, and Aponmun Reserved Camp.
Meanwhile, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization drive nationwide, engaging schools, worship centers, traditional rulers, and corporate leaders.
While commending officers for the “sweeping arrests and seizures,” NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), stressed that the battle was far from over.
“From Anambra to Taraba, Kano to Maiduguri, our men are showing that no hiding place exists for drug barons. We shall sustain this momentum until every community is free from the grip of illicit substances,” Marwa declared.