ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized over 7.6 million tramadol pills and more than 76,000 kilograms of cannabis in a series of coordinated raids across the country, the agency said on Sunday.
According to the NDLEA, the large-scale operations were driven by fresh intelligence targeting major trafficking networks and storage hubs used by drug cartels nationwide.
In Delta State, the agency recovered 3,874,000 tramadol pills (225mg and 100mg) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup during a raid on a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, on December 6.
Earlier, on December 3, operatives seized 1.2 million tramadol tablets from a suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, after intercepting his vehicle at Orogwe along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
The consignment was reportedly loaded in Aba and headed for Onitsha.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus along the Maraba-Mubi Road, uncovering 1,577,112 tramadol and Exol-5 capsules concealed inside jumbo bags packed with rubber sandals.
Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested.
In Kano State, operatives arrested Mudansir Rabiu, 27, along the Zaria-Kano Road with 197,000 Exol-5 pills.
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The agency’s special operations unit also stormed multiple drug camps in Ekiti State, destroying 14,654kg of skunk in Omuo-Ekiti and 54,300kg in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA.
Two suspects Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26, were arrested, while additional warehouses were dismantled.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives raided the Igoba Forest in Akure North LGA, recovering 5,442kg of compressed skunk and arresting five suspects, including Jacob Omodowo, 66, and Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24.
In Niger State, officers intercepted a Mercedes-Benz van along the Mokwa-Jebba Road and recovered 500kg of skunk, arresting Amos Yakubu, 46.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives seized 22kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, during an operation along the Abaji Expressway.
The recipient, Ali Blessing, 33, was later arrested at Jabi Park. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested along the Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 Exol-5 pills.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers recovered 113kg of Canadian Loud from a suspect, Ezenwa Udoka, at Ladipo Market, Mushin.
They also arrested Izuchukwu Usulor with 351kg of skunk at Onipanu, and Susan Okoro with 104.1kg at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.
In Edo State, operatives recovered 447.5kg of skunk from two vehicles in Agho Forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, arresting Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56.
An additional 315.8kg was seized from a warehouse in Isiefve Community, where Stanley Obasuwa was arrested.
The NDLEA added that its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns continued nationwide in schools, worship centres and communities.
Commending the operatives, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the Special Operations Unit and state commands in Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger and Edo for what he described as a “balanced and sustained approach to drug supply and demand reduction.”