…Intercepts drugs hidden in speakers, bread across states
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 44.45kg, shipped from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.
The agency also recovered consignments of Colorado concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, while several suspects linked to the seized drugs were arrested.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after he allegedly arrived with a secret collection code sent by his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance.
The agency said a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of its designated recipient, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was allegedly found in connection with another 12.25kg consignment of Colorado.
“Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK,” the NDLEA said.
In another operation in Lagos, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker allegedly rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza.
The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
The NDLEA said a tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo Park, Lagos, the agency also arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
More arrests, seizures across states
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives recorded separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba, recovering ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
The agency said some of the substances were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano State, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Also in Kano, a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread.
The suspect, 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
In Plateau State, the NDLEA said 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk, a form of cannabis, on farms at Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11, during the operation.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The officers recovered 186kg of skunk allegedly concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested. The agency alleged that he was planning to move the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The suspects were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.
Marwa charges officers to sustain crackdown
Meanwhile, the NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.
The activities included a WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
The Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
Commending the officers and men of the various commands involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged them to “continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels, whether at the airports, seaports, land borders, or in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.”
