The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, in operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the seizures have a combined estimated street value of more than ₦3.4bn.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at ₦1.81bn at the Tin-Can Island Port.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the shipment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.
According to him, the container was subjected to a joint physical examination by NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16.
The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside the 40-foot container, he said.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs.
Ekpe was arrested on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus, Babafemi said.
He added that investigation revealed that Ekpe allegedly posed as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card.
An alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested, Babafemi said.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which it alleged was being used as a front for storing illicit drugs.
In Niger State, three suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area.
Babafemi said the suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
In a separate operation, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on Friday along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
According to Babafemi, operatives recovered more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets from the suspects.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks while being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company.
Babafemi also said operatives arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos, where 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market respectively.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The agency said the operation led to the destruction of a two-hectare farm containing about 5,000kg of cannabis.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
The NDLEA said 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for prosecution.
Commending officers and men of the affected commands, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa also called for continued implementation of what he described as a balanced approach to drug control across the country.
