By HeapNews
In one of the most sweeping operations yet, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup with a combined street value of N3.4 billion in coordinated raids across Rivers, Lagos, and several other states.
The largest seizure occurred on Tuesday, April 29, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, where a joint team of NDLEA officers, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies discovered two million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine in a watch-listed container.
In Lagos, the agency recovered 1.5 million pills of controlled opioids from a suspect, Olarenwaju Wahab, at Alaba-Rago, Ojo. Further investigations linked the source to a residence in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, owned by one Obinna Kenneth who is now on the run.
Also at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, 42 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 20kg were found concealed in tins of chocolate and beans aboard a British Airways flight from Canada. Three suspects, including Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.
In a separate incident at the Lagos airport, businessman Bobby Morris Osas was caught on May 2 with 8,130 tramadol pills while trying to board a flight to Italy.
Another syndicate attempting to ship 104 grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in body cream to Iraq via courier on April 28 was also busted by NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.
NDLEA also made significant seizures in Kaduna, where operatives found 942 explosives in a commercial vehicle headed to Zamfara from Nasarawa. A 30-year-old suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad (alias Nura Hariji), was arrested and is to be transferred to appropriate security agencies.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the operations as evidence of the agency’s sustained crackdown on drug trafficking.
“Our officers are not relenting. These seizures underscore our resolve to cut off drug supplies and dismantle trafficking networks across the country,” said Marwa. “I commend the dedication of our teams across the PHPC, MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and other commands.”
In Kano, five members of a syndicate led by Aminu Musa (alias Kadagi) were arrested with 50 blocks of skunk, weighing 21.6kg. Similarly, in Edo and Anambra states, NDLEA seized over 360,000 pills of various opioids and arrested suspects Dare Adeyemo and Chinedu Eneh.
Another arrest in Niger State led to the recovery of thousands of tramadol capsules and pentazocine injections from a truck along the Kontagora-Mokwa road.
In a significant breakthrough following a 10-month investigation, NDLEA on April 26 arrested Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd, over his role in the 2024 importation of 2.6 million tramadol pills through Apapa seaport. A search of his Lekki home led to the seizure of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud.
Meanwhile, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued with sensitization programs in schools across Kano and Katsina.
Marwa praised the balanced effort of the agency’s teams, saying, “We must continue to match enforcement with education to end the scourge of drug abuse in our communities.”