By HeapNews
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded significant breakthroughs in its relentless fight against drug trafficking and abuse across the country. From Enugu to Lagos, Rivers to Kano, and beyond, operatives intercepted large quantities of narcotics and dismantled syndicates in a series of coordinated operations.
At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Christian Iheanacho, was arrested for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilograms. Osuoha, who operates a phone and accessories business, confessed to engaging in the illicit trade to salvage his declining business. NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) praised the operatives’ vigilance, saying, “This arrest is a testament to the precision of our intelligence-led operations.”
In Lagos, a cocaine distribution cartel led by Ndive Maxwell Obinna was dismantled, leading to the arrest of Obinna and five associates, with 2.412 kilograms of cocaine seized. Additionally, NDLEA apprehended a Chinese drug kingpin, Tianzhen Yen, alias Jackie, and recovered cocaine, methamphetamine, and weighing scales from his Ikeja hotel room.
At the Tincan Seaport, 92 parcels of “Loud,” a synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 23.25kg, were found hidden in imported vehicles from Canada. In Rivers State, over 168,000 bottles of codeine syrup and 4.5 million tramadol pills worth N4.3 billion were intercepted during joint examinations at the Onne Port. Marwa remarked, “These port seizures highlight the crucial role of inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding our communities.”
From Ekiti to Edo and Kano, NDLEA operatives confiscated thousands of kilograms of cannabis and arrested numerous suspects, including a 50-year-old physically challenged woman in Ekiti and multiple traffickers in Edo and Bauchi States.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA ramped up its sensitization programs through lectures in schools and communities. Marwa lauded these efforts, he said, “Our balanced approach to curbing drug supply and reducing demand underscores our unwavering commitment to a drug-free Nigeria.”