LAGOS — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup with a combined street value of more than N5 billion at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne ports.
The agency said the seizures were the result of intelligence gathering and tracking of the shipments from their points of origin.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying officers at the three ports conducted joint examinations of watch-listed containers in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA officers at Apapa Port in Lagos subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination following intelligence received by the agency.
He said a search of one of the containers on September 3 led to the recovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg, with an estimated street value of N372 million.
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The consignment, he said, was concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.
N833.2m Worth of Drugs Seized at Onne Port
At the Onne Port in Rivers State, Babafemi said two containers placed on the agency’s watch list were subjected to a joint examination following processed intelligence.
He said operatives recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg from a travelling bag and three of five vehicles shipped in one of the containers.
The second container, he added, contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.
Babafemi said the container had been shipped from India to Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was allegedly deleted in an attempt to evade detection.
The NDLEA spokesman put the combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments recovered at the Onne Port at N833.2 million.
1.29 Tonnes of Canadian Loud Seized at Tin Can
At the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on September 29 conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada.
The search led to the recovery of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg.
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Babafemi said the drugs were concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags in the container.
The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion in street value, according to the agency.
Businessman Arrested With 4.8kg of Cocaine
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, arrested a 38-year-old businessman, identified as Philip Tunde, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.80kg of cocaine to Milan, Italy.
Babafemi said the suspect was arrested on September 27 at the joint screening point of Terminal 2, ahead of his Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan.
A search, he said, led to the recovery of 16 parcels of a white powdery substance concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps hidden in the railings of four travelling bags.
The substances tested positive for cocaine and weighed 4.80kg.
According to Babafemi, the suspect claimed during interrogation that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the bags was allegedly intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.
He reportedly told investigators that he raised the money from compensation received after sustaining an injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.
20,234kg of Cannabis Destroyed in Osun
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk recovered from an 8.0936-hectare cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area.
Babafemi said the operation was conducted on September 30.
In Plateau State, operatives arrested a 41-year-old suspect, Agbo Dennis, at the West of Mines area of Jos North on September 29, following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, on September 28 and recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.
The agency also arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Ekundayo Taiwo, at Ladipo Spare Parts Market on September 30.
The arrest followed the seizure, the previous day, of 61g of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24g of methamphetamine concealed in an energy drink bottle and sent as a waybill package through a commercial bus driver along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Methamphetamine Intercepted in Kogi
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commercial bus on September 30 and recovered two sachets containing 1kg of methamphetamine from a waybill consignment.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako, Abuja.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, on October 2 and recovered 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.
On the same day, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59g of Loud, 12g of Colorado, 19g of tramadol, 16g of methamphetamine, 4g of Swinol and 4g of Molly.
Fugitive Arrested After Six Years
The agency also announced the arrest of 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, who allegedly evaded arrest for six years after jumping bail.
Kurra was facing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk.
According to the NDLEA, he was granted bail in December 2020 but subsequently absconded and remained at large until his arrest on September 29.
NDLEA Sustains Anti-Drug Campaign
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said the activities included enlightenment lectures at St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State, among others.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Tin Can, Port Harcourt Ports, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun Commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
