NDLEA Recovers N4.8bn Opioids In Lagos Warehouse, Fake $20m Notes In Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided a warehouse in the midst of popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos, where about N4.8bn worth of opioids were recovered.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the anti-narcotics agency raided the warehouse on Saturday and recovered 1,400,000 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826kg, 3,200,000 pills of codeine with gross weight of 3,360kg and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance, with a combined street value of N4.8bn.

The NDLEA also said during the operation which lasted hours, a suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, who is chief security officer to the wanted drug baron, who parades as an automobile spare parts dealer, was arrested and now assisting ongoing investigation.

Recall that this warehouse bust is coming on the heels of the arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo who was nabbed on Wednesday 9th August with 2,750,000 pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg recovered from her residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos and a warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Friday, intercepted $20m suspected to be counterfeit during a stop and search operation along Abaji – Lokoja road, within the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspected fake money was recovered from a bus coming from Lagos to Abuja, while the 53-year-old driver of the vehicle, Onyebuchi Nlededin was arrested.

Babafemi also said on Thursday 17th August, Jude Ndubuisi, 52, was arrested with 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Kabusa village, FCT.

The suspect was initially arrested with 20.75kg cannabis on 7th July 2022 and was on court bail following his ongoing prosecution when he was nabbed for yet another drug crime.

Another raid of two notorious drug joints within the FCT: Dei Dei and Tora-Bora Hills led to the recovery of 82.8kg skunk, 1.8kg rohypnol and 1.2kg diazepam on Wednesday 16th August.

In Osun, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Saturday destroyed clusters of cannabis farms measuring about 3.49000 hectares (over 7.5 tons) at Mopatedo in Ifedayo local government area of the State.

Two suspects: Sunday Otogbo, 40, and Peter Andel Makra, 35, were arrested inside the cannabis farms. Additional 30kg cannabis weeds and 16.9kg of cannabis seeds were also recovered from the farms.