In a series of intelligence-led operations across the country, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it recovered over 7.6 million pills of tramadol and a total of 76,273.4 kilogrammes of different strains of cannabis including Colorado, Loud and Skunk.
The crackdown has resulted in the arrest of several members belonging to the drug trafficking organizations connected to the massive seizures.
According to a statement released on Sunday, December 7, by Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and emailed to Persecondnews, the operation uncovered a vast cache of opioids.
Specifically, agents recovered 3,874,000 pills of tramadol (225mg, 100mg, and other variants) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a single warehouse at Oko market, Asaba, Delta state, during the raids conducted just one day earlier, on Saturday, December 6.
The statement reads: “No fewer than 1.2 million tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized from a suspect Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, on Wednesday, December 3 when NDLEA operatives on patrol at Orogwe, along Onitsha- Owerri road Imo state, intercepted his vehicle conveying the consignment which was loaded at Aba, Abia state, heading to Onitsha, Anambra state.
“In Adamawa state, NDLEA officers on Monday, December 1 intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus marked MGU 554 XB along Maraba-Mubi coming from Jos, Plateau state going to Mubi with a total of 1, 577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets, all concealed inside jumbo bags mixed with new rubber sandals and slippers.
“Two suspects: Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested in connection with the seizure. Similarly, another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was nabbed along Zaria-Kano road, Kano state with 197,000 pills of exol-5.
“Operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA stormed forests in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti state where they destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk and arrested two suspects: Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26.
“In another operation, the operatives on Tuesday, December 2 stormed the forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, Ekiti state, where they destroyed 54,300kg of skunk in two large warehouses that were razed while 28.3kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered for the purpose of prosecution.
“Following actionable intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, December 2 raided Igoba forest in Akure North LGA, Ondo state where a total of 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of same substance all weighing 5,442 kilograms were recovered and five suspects arrested.”
It added:”Those nabbed include: Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56.
“While 500kg of same substance was recovered from a Mercedes Benz van marked MGU 614 XB by NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger state on Thursday, December 4 with the driver Amos Yakubu, 46, arrested.
“Operatives in the FCT Abuja on Wednesday, December 3 intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, weighing 22kg at Abaji expressway. A follow up operation at the Jabi park in Abuja led to the arrest of a female receiver, Ali Blessing, 33.
“Also in the FCT, a suspect Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested by operatives on Friday, December 5 with 24kg skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5 along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 217 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 113kg from a suspect Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo market, Mushin, while Izuchukwu Usulor was nabbed with 351kg skunk at Onipanu area of the state on December 5.
“Another suspect Susan Okoro was arrested with 104.1kg of same psychoactive substance at Trade Fair complex, Ojo, on Tuesday, December 2.”
It equally reads: “A total of 447.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered from two Honda Accord cars marked: ABC-678 KK and GGE-772 FB at Agho forest, Akoko Edo LGA, Edo state. A suspect Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56, was apprehended in connection with the seizure.
“A raid operation at a warehouse in the Isiefve community, Ohuwunde LGA, led to the seizure of 315.8kg of skunk and the arrest of a suspect Stanley Obasuwa.”
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse(WADA), sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of St. Michael’s Academy, Sabon Gari, Kano; Harry Pass Secondary School, Masaje, Gboko LGA, Benue; and Community Junior Secondary School, Okuru-Ama, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers state, among others.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the.SOU, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
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