The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1,190,168,200.00 in street value in two containers watch-listed by the agency following processed intelligence.
The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday January 10, 2025, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.
Also, following intelligence, the NDLEA intercepted a 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, while confirming this, said the intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday, January 11, 2025, led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect, 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.
Investigation revealed that the consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local government area of Edo State.
In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.
Also, no fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA.
The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.
In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.
“Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate,” Babafemi added.
