By Abiola Olawale
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced its interception of an additional consignment comprising 175,000 bottles of opioids originating from India.
This development follows closely on the heels of a recent seizure of a shipment containing 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Director of Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, announced that a total of 875 cartons of codeine, comprising 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250 kg, were confiscated on Friday, June 7, 2024.
He revealed that the seizure took place during a coordinated inspection involving NDLEA, Customs Service, and other security agencies.
Babafemi revealed that the shipment labelled HASU 4787890 originating from India was in transit to the C to C bonded terminal in Enugu when it was intercepted by NDLEA operatives.
He also announced that NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted five parcels containing illicit drugs concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair destined for the United States and the United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 5.
According to Babafemi, some of the seized drugs included 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine, and other opioids. The drug consignments were seized at a courier firm in Lagos.
Similarly, in Kebbi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kalgo-Birnin Kebbi road on Saturday, June 8, arrested a 32-year-old Nigerien, Hassan Mummuni, with 4,000 pills of diazepam and 1.25 kg of cannabis, concealed in four pesticide tanks.
The statement reads in part: “In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Ningi-Kano road on Wednesday, June 5, arrested a 20-year-old lady, Hasana Usman, with 25 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 28.2 kg, while their counterparts in Yobe State nabbed Ali Mohammed, 42, along the Kano-Potiskum road, with 19,000 pills of tramadol 225 mg concealed in a black sack and the suspect’s travelling bag.
“In Oyo State, 57-year-old Oladimeji Samson was arrested in a commercial bus at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 79 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 44.4 kg and 48 grams of ecstasy, all concealed in the engine compartment under the driver’s seat of the bus.
“Not less than 17,980 pills of tramadol and other opioids were seized from a suspect, Ali Isiaka Mohammed, 36, following his arrest at Ganaja Village, Lokoja LGA, Kogi State, while the duo of Blessing Samuel, 35, and Unnanchi Mike, 34, were arrested with 804 bottles of codeine syrup at Narayi, Kaduna State. Also in Kaduna, Tijjani Umar, 37, and Yahaya Suleman, 35, were arrested with 33.9 kilograms of cannabissalivating the Lafiya area, Kudan LGA of the state.
“At least nine suspects, including Salisu Sanda, 48, and James Andrew, 25, were arrested by NDLEA operatives during a raid at Toaabora Hills area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Saturday, June 8, with a total of 83.01 kg of cannabis recovered from them.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.) commended the officers and men of PHPC, Gombe, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, Yobe, Bauchi, Kebbi, and FCT Commands, as well as those of DOGI, for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa noted that their drug supply reduction efforts are balanced with WADA sensitization activities, while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain their zeal and tempo.
