The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a staggering 300,000 pills of Exol-5 in coordinated raids across Niger and Kaduna States, dealing a significant blow to illicit drug trafficking networks.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that operatives of the agency on Wednesday arrested a 29-year-old suspect with 150,000 pills of Exol-5, 800 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 22,000 capsules of tramadol at New Bussa, in Niger.#
Similarly, in Kaduna, a suspect, 27, known simply as Farin Malam, was nabbed at the Abuja/Kaduna toll gate while conveying 150,000 pills of exol-5 from Lagos to Katsina.
Meanwhile, a total of 27,510 pills of Rohypnol concealed in sachets of alcoholic drinks going to South Africa had also been intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
“After the initial arrest of a freight agent and a cab driver linked to the shipment, a follow-up operation at Oyingbo market in Lagos led to the arrest of the mastermind, a 46-year-old man, on October 2.
“The same day, an Italy-based businessman was arrested by operatives while attempting to export 3,700 pills of tramadol 225mg and 2,600 tablets of tapentadol 200mg, hidden in food items, to the European country.
“He claimed he was trafficking the opioids for someone else for a fee of 945 euros,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Edo, a raid of 33 at Ugbekpe Ekperi in Etsako Central Local Government Area (LGA) led to the recovery of 47kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
He said that two suspected drug dealers, 48, and Oladejo Taiwo, 52, were arrested on Wednesday at Omifufun village, Ife South LGA, Osun.
This followed the seizure of 635 kilogrammes of skunk from their Toyota Hiace bus marked DDA65ZY, with two other suspects arrested.
“Another 41-year-old and 36 36-year-old suspected drug trafficker were nabbed at the exact location with 100kg of skunk recovered from them along with their motorcycle.
“Another suspect, 20, and 25 years respectively, were arrested in different parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers, in connection with the seizure of 8.5kg skunk on Friday, October 10.
“Again, a 46-year-old suspected drug trafficker was nabbed after 29.5kg of the same substance was found in his house at Bayan Asibiti, Jibia town, Katsina State on Saturday,” he said.
In the same vein, Babafemi said that a total of 312kg of skunk was recovered from a bush at Ologede camp, Ogbese, Ondo State.
He said that operatives on patrol along the Benin-Lagos expressway on Thursday intercepted two suspects in a car conveying 141.8kg of skunk.
Similarly, the agency’s commands and formations nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, over the past week.
These included: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola, Adamawa; Assembly of God Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Community Girls Secondary School, Bakori, Katsina.
Others were: Girls Secondary School, Nenwe, Awgu LGA, Enugu; Day Secondary School, Tungan Mallam, Paikoro LGA, Niger; Sacred Heart Secondary School, Kabba, Kogi; Ebenezer Model Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra; Government Secondary School, Borikiri, Rivers.
“The rest were: Government Junior Secondary School, Wakili Bawa, Ungoggo LGA, Kano; and Baptist High School, Ede, Osun, among others,” he added.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, and Osun commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain their tenacity, professionalism and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
