The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its offensive against drug cartels nationwide, dismantling no fewer than six syndicates and arresting nine kingpins in a string of intelligence-driven raids across multiple states.
A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday detailed the sweeping operations, which led to the seizure of tons of assorted narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, Loud, skunk, tramadol and codeine syrup.
On Tuesday, November 18, NDLEA operatives arrested two members of a drug trafficking network at a logistics facility in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The suspects, Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu (30) and Christopher Michael Ndibuisi (51), were nabbed while attempting to take delivery of a consignment concealed inside pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.
The shipment, which arrived in Lagos on November 13 via a Tag-Angola flight, contained:
5.40kg methamphetamine
10.70kg Loud
16g cocaine
200g phenacetin
200g methcathinone
100g caffeine
Lagos Airport: Cocaine Hidden In Brake Servo Part Intercepted
Another sting at the Lagos airport on Thursday, November 20, led to the interception of a brake servo auto part stuffed with 48 pellets and one block of cocaine weighing 2.30kg bound for Gabon.
A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, was arrested, while a follow-up operation at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, resulted in the arrest of auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.
NDLEA officers in Kogi on November 17 intercepted a trailer carrying 4,700kg of skunk at Kabba.
Three suspects, Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi, were arrested.
A coordinated follow-up in Jos on November 21 led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu, believed to own both the trailer and the illicit cargo.
Cross River Couple Arrested With 4.7 Tonnes of Skunk
A warehouse raid on November 19 in Ugep, Yakurr LGA, Cross River State, led to the arrest of a couple, Onun Okoi Okpotum (55) and Itam Okoi Okpotum (52).
Recovered from their warehouse were 362 jumbo bags of skunk, weighing 4,706kg.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers on November 22 arrested two women running an online drug-laced brownies business in Benin City, Praise Nwogu (19) and Ebong Emem Oghosa (25).
Seized from them were brownies, 76g of skunk, 1.5g of Colorado, and other drug-laced edibles.
A separate raid in Ososo Village, Akoko Edo LGA, uncovered 59kg of skunk, and 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu was arrested.
On November 19, operatives patrolling the Enugu–Onitsha Road arrested Chinoso Emmanuel Monday (24) with:
10.1kg skunk
105,600 tramadol pills
700 ampoules of pentazocine
3,000 rounds of live ammunition
Kebbi: 13,155 Bottles of Codeine Evacuated
In Dandi LGA of Kebbi State, officers evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse.
A 23-year-old suspect, Umar Adamu, was arrested with 12,548 opioid pills hidden in paracetamol containers and allegedly destined for a Boko Haram enclave in Borno State.
More Arrests In FCT, Niger And Lagos
Two suspects, Anthony Mercy (40) and Sunday Augustine (39), were arrested along the Abaji–Abuja Expressway with 430.5kg of drugs on November 17.
In Niger State, Samson Dafe (47) was arrested with 85,100 tramadol pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup.
A raid in Shiroro LGA recovered 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8kg.
In Lagos, a suspect, Usman Ayoola Adegoke, was picked up after officers recovered 71kg of Canadian Loud from an apartment in Lekki.
Another suspect, Oluchi Celestine, was caught with 2.6kg of Colorado concealed in branded containers and boarding passes.
A joint NDLEA, military raid on Lagos Island on November 17 cleared the notorious Peti drug enclave, recovering 385kg of various narcotics.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended officers across the country, warning that drug cartels typically intensify operations ahead of the festive season.
He said, “The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge.
“Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”
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