The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, worth over N2,185,000,000.00 at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
NDLEA also said its officers, with the cooperation of other security agencies, on Friday, May 31, 2024, intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50 kg of the strong psychoactive substance, coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.
According to the Agency, the consignment, estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis, and was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs, and others during a joint search operation while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.
In a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but traveled to Toronto, Canada, to transport the drug to Nigeria. During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of six million naira.
Babafemi said at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India en route to the C-to-C bonded terminal in Enugu on Monday, May 27.
He explained that during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250 kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000 in street value, were discovered.
Babafemi further announced that in Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0 kg of methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway on Friday, May 31, while traveling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa State. In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, 29th May, nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2 kg of cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.
“Two suspects, Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000 kg of the same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday, May 30.
“In Katsina State, 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42 kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria-Malumfashi Road on Wednesday, May 29.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina, and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa noted that their efforts, along with those of their compatriots across the country, have significantly reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigerian communities. He charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.
