The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than N10 billion in a series of operations across Lagos and other parts of the country, arresting suspected drug kingpins while also recovering military-grade ammunition concealed in palm oil containers.
The operations, which targeted cocaine, synthetic cannabis known as “Loud,” opioids and tramadol, also led to the seizure of 401 rounds of ammunition in Katsina and Kaduna states, while a UK-bound shipment of tramadol hidden inside black soup containers was intercepted.
Among those arrested is Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old clothing trader at Lagos’ Balogun Market, who was apprehended over an attempt to export 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.
According to the NDLEA, the cocaine consignment was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 22.
Investigations led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—before another suspect, Kenneth Okakpu, was traced and arrested.
Further investigations identified Onuigbo as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate. He was eventually arrested on July 23 while allegedly attempting to send another cocaine shipment to the UK.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, at her Surulere residence in Lagos after intercepting her consignment of 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which had arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
The agency also recorded a major seizure of opioids after recovering 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, estimated to be worth over N2.2 billion, from a cargo shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.
The seizure followed intelligence gathering and a joint examination of the cargo.
The interception came shortly after NDLEA officers uncovered a shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soup intended for export to the United Kingdom through a Lagos courier company.
At the Apapa Seaport, operatives uncovered 2,388.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud hidden inside three imported vehicles. The seizure, comprising 4,777 sachets, has an estimated street value of over N7.1 billion.
Beyond drug seizures, NDLEA operatives in Katsina arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, including 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Similarly, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of palm oil. The agency said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security authorities for further investigation.
In Edo State, a raid on a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, resulted in the seizure of 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds. Operatives also arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, with 60kg of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was apprehended with 13kg of the same substance.
The agency said it also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes held in schools and communities in Niger, Kano and Lagos states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to remain committed to sustaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction through enforcement and public enlightenment.
