In another significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the 80-room Hook Hotel, also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge, in Victoria Island, Lagos, on April 25, suspected of being a hub for illicit substance distribution.
Following an exhaustive search, operatives confiscated 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain totaling 417.3kg, valued at approximately N1.0425 billion.
In a statement sent to Persecondnews on Sunday in Abuja, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the operation, which took place on April 25 and 26, resulted in the arrest of three suspects: Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh.
Two other suspects, Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth, remain at large.
According to Babafemi, items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trade recovered from the premises housing The Hook Hotel include: Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ), Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ), and Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE).
Also recovered are: Kia Cerato Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ), Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF), 74 new TV sets, 10 used TV sets, and
13 refrigerators, among others.
In another major interdiction, NDLEA operatives in Jigawa, acting on intelligence, seized consignments of opioids on Wednesday, April 23, in a follow-up operation that linked Kano to destinations in Niger Republic and Yobe State.
The psychoactive substances were being transported in a Toyota Sienna vehicle (ABJ 182 NW) when intercepted by anti-narcotic officers on patrol around 2:30 am on Wednesday along Kano-Ringim Road in Gumel town.
Two suspects, Abba Ibrahim, 28, and Shuaibu Umar, 29, were arrested.
The Sienna vehicle yielded 200,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin.
A swift follow-up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, at his residence in Mil Tara, Layin Technical area.
Additionally, 1,584,000 pills of tramadol 250mg were discovered and evacuated from a Nissan 18-seater bus (DAL 372 XA) and a room in his house.
This brings the total number of recovered opioid pills to 2,001,500.
In a follow-up to the recent seizure of 20 parcels of cocaine hidden in religious books bound for Saudi Arabia, NDLEA operatives intercepted another shipment containing 46 wraps of cocaine, weighing 547 grams, concealed in body cream and destined for the Middle East.
The seizure was made on Wednesday, April 23, at a Lagos courier firm.
On the same day, another consignment was intercepted, comprising 1.8kg of pentazocine injection and 60 grams of bromazepam tablets bound for Canada.
NDLEA operatives in another operation at the Gbaji checkpoint in Seme border area, Badagry, Lagos, arrested three Ghanaian women on Sunday, April 20, for attempting to smuggle 4.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.
The arrested suspects are: Haziza Zubairu, 42; Samirat Mustapha, 43; and Jamila Salifu, 26.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested 60-year-old Safiya Shamsu with 5.6kg of skunk, a cannabis strain, in Samegu, Kumbotso LGA, on Friday, April 25.
Separately, 35-year-old Muntari Labaran was taken into custody after 100 liters of codeine syrup were seized from him in Yelwa, Dala LGA.
On Thursday, April 24, NDLEA operatives raided two farms in Ugbodu, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, destroying 3,814.9kg of skunk and arresting three suspects: Samuel Samson, 26; Daniel Peter, 20; and Abel Edah, 31.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands continued across the country over the past week.
Some examples include WADA sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff at Dan-Doro Community Arabic Secondary School in Katsina, St. James Anglican School in Kebbi, and Federal Government Girls College in Sokoto, as well as to members of Oganiru age grade in Onitsha, Anambra.
Additionally, the Lagos State Strategic Command of NDLEA conducted a WADA advocacy visit to the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers of the DOGI and Lagos, Kano, Jigawa, Edo, and Seme commands for recent arrests and seizures.
He also praised all the various commands nationwide for effectively balancing drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
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