NDLEA intercepts cocaine, opioids concealed in cartons bound for UK, Australia
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids concealed in carton walls and destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, according to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi disclosed that the seizures were made on May 15 at a courier company in Lagos, where officers recovered 170 grammes of cocaine hidden inside a carton of clothes bound for Australia, as well as 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection concealed in another shipment heading to the United Kingdom.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area, destroying 27,500 kilogrammes of skunk on 11 hectares of farmland and recovering an additional 22.9 kilogrammes of the substance, while a suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter, 52, was arrested during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku.
The agency also carried out a similar operation in Orogun village, Ughelli North Local Government Area, where 37,500 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on 15 hectares of farmland and 55.4 kilogrammes recovered, leading to the arrest of 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera, bringing the total quantity destroyed in both raids to 65,000 kilogrammes.
Babafemi further stated that NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed in fresh cassava granules, popularly known as garri, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan, who was later transferred to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, alleged to be producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings, with 800 grammes of skunk and 2.7 kilogrammes of drug-infused cookies recovered from his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja.
The anti-narcotics agency also recorded arrests and seizures in several other states, including Ogun, Taraba, Oyo, Edo and Kano, where suspects were apprehended with skunk, opioid pills and tramaking tablets concealed in containers of palm oil.
While commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised commands across the country for intensifying efforts in drug supply reduction and public sensitisation campaigns under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse initiative, Babafemi added.
