By Omoyeni Ojeifo
In another major crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup worth over N5 billion.
The operations also led to the seizure of cocaine, tramadol, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs, with several suspects arrested across Lagos, Plateau, Kogi and Edo states, according to a statement emailed to Persecondnews on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy.
The Tincan Island Port in Lagos was the scene of a joint examination on Tuesday, September 29, when NDLEA operatives and Customs officers searched a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada.
According to the agency, the operation led to the seizure of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5 kilograms and valued at over N3.8 billion in street value.
The consignment was concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, with 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags also found inside the container.
Similarly, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination at the Apapa Port with Customs and other stakeholders.
“A search of one container on Saturday, September 3, produced 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124 kilograms and valued at N372 million,” it noted.
The cannabis was concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.
Also, at the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers watch-listed by the NDLEA based on processed intelligence were subjected to joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.
The agency noted that the exercise uncovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22 kilograms, hidden in a travelling bag and three of five vehicles shipped in one container.
“The vehicles were a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, while the second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, weighing about 16,440 kilograms,” it stated.
The container had left India for Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was deleted to avoid targeting.
The codeine and Loud consignments intercepted at Onne had a combined street value of N833,200,000.
In a twist of events, six years after jumping bail, 47-year-old fugitive Idris Mohammed Kurra was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29.
Kurra was facing trial at the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, in connection with the possession and dealing in 198 kilograms of skunk.
According to the agency, he had jumped bail granted by the court since December 2020 and evaded arrest since then.
Meanwhile, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 38-year-old Milan-bound businessman, Philip Tunde, with 4.80 kilograms of cocaine.
Tunde was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point, Terminal 2, ahead of his Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
A thorough search led to the recovery of 16 parcels of white powder hidden in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.
Another 195 wraps of the substance were concealed in the railings of four travelling bags, with the substances testing positive for cocaine and weighing a combined 4.80 kilograms.
During interview, Tunde claimed he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was meant for his partner in Italy.
He said he raised the money from compensation paid him for an injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, in which he lost the tips of two fingers.
In another interdiction in Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234 kilograms of skunk on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area, on Wednesday, September 30.
Elsewhere in Plateau State, 41-year-old Agbo Dennis was arrested on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at West of Mines, Jos North, following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385 kilograms.
In Lagos State again, NDLEA operatives on Monday, September 28, raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, recovering 209,000 tablets of tramadol.
A follow-up operation on Wednesday, September 30, led to the arrest of 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo at Ladipo Spare Parts Market.
According to the agency, the arrest followed the seizure of 61 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24 grams of methamphetamine the previous day.
The substances were hidden inside a bottle of an energy drink packaged as a waybill recovered from a commercial bus driver along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway on Wednesday, September 30, intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commuter bus.
A waybill found on the bus concealed two sachets of methamphetamine weighing one kilogram.
The NDLEA said, that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuememka Uzoma, at Utako, Abuja.
In Edo State, the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi was raided at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, on Friday, October 2.
NDLEA officers recovered 32.2 kilograms of cannabis sativa from the residence.
The same day, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59 grams of Loud and 12 grams of Colorado.
He was also found with 19 grams of Tramadol, 16 grams of methamphetamine, four grams of Swinol and four grams of Molly.
Across the country, NDLEA Commands and formations also continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun Commands, NDLEA Chairman/CEO , retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach.
Marwa charged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the onslaught against drug trafficking networks.
He also urged them to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
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