NDLEA Foils Drug Syndicates’ Attempts to Export Illicit Substances

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully halted several attempts by drug syndicates to export illicit substances through innovative concealment methods.

These attempts, aimed at destinations in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia, were disrupted by NDLEA operatives stationed at various courier firms in Lagos States.

Several consignments were intercepted during patrols conducted by NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation. These included hidden tramadol 225mg stitched into hems of new jeans trousers, cannabis sativa secreted in doll heads, sachets of tramadol 225mg concealed in tins of milo beverage, as well as methamphetamine concealed in buttons, all destined for different locations.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the anti-narcotics agency, on Sunday, confirmed the interception of a shipment from Florida, USA, tracked to a recipient named Daniel Ogi, who was subsequently arrested in Lagos on November 24th, 2023.

Moreover, NDLEA operatives arrested Okechukwu Ogala, a 56-year-old alleged drug kingpin involved in recruiting and exploiting young citizens for exporting methamphetamine to Asian countries. He was apprehended at the Blue Moon Hotel in Okota, Lagos, in possession of 60 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.009 kilograms.

In a series of operations in Lagos, operatives recovered substantial amounts of cannabis from various locations and arrested several individuals involved in drug-related activities. Similar operations in Edo, Anambra, Bauchi, Abuja, Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, and Delta states resulted in significant seizures of various narcotics.

He added, “In Edo, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 29th November stormed the Ujiogba forest, Esan West LGA where they recovered 5,988 kilograms of cannabis already processed and ready for distribution while a 22-year-old, Mson Bunde, (a.k.a Tete Peter Joseph) found in a hut on the cannabis farm was arrested.

“No less than 120,000 capsules of tramadol concealed in new sound systems packed in a Jos, Plateau state-bound bus were seized by NDLEA officers acting on intelligence along Onitsha-Awka road, Anambra State on Monday, November 27, while 123 blocks of cannabis weighing 73kgs were recovered from a suspect, Abdullahi Bello along Gombe-Bauchi road, Gombe state on Wednesday, November 29, operatives in Abuja seized 168 blocks of the same psychoactive substance with a total weight of 101kgs from the store of a fleeing drug dealer in Kabusa area of the FCT.”

The NDLEA spokesperson reported the seizure of 8,000 bottles of codeine syrup by agency operatives on December 1st. They intercepted a vehicle carrying the opioid along the Abuja-Kaduna road and arrested the driver, Shamsu Isiyaku, and his conductor, Muhammad Maina. On the same day, Ernest Esechie, 30, was apprehended with 44.4 kilograms of compressed cannabis sativa along Gwantu-Sanga road in Kaduna.

In Kogi, NDLEA officers arrested Ahmad Umar, 18, at a checkpoint in Kabba, with 46.4 kilograms of cannabis. Another suspect, Jamilu Zakari, 32, was nabbed at Kofar Idi, Kandahar, Bauchi town, Bauchi state, with 125 blocks of the same substance, weighing 146 kilograms. Additionally, NDLEA operatives seized 542.3 kilograms of cannabis from Festus Egeogoli, 32, during a raid at his base on Jakpa road in Warri, Delta state, on November 29th. Furthermore, 125.9 kilograms of the same substance were confiscated from a store in the same area.

Babafemi said the agency’s relentless efforts to curtail drug trafficking across the nation, detailing the recovery of thousands of capsules of tramadol, blocks of cannabis, and bottles of codeine syrup, among other substances, in various states.

The NDLEA remains committed to its mission to counter drug-related crimes, dismantle smuggling networks, and curb the circulation of illicit substances within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.