Anti Drug Agency Intercepts 24,311 Kilos Of Banned Illicit Drugs In Lagos

About 24,311 kilograms of banned drugs have been taken into custody by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The drugs were found at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja and the Tin-Can Seaport, Apapa, Lagos respectively.

Mr Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, who disclosed this on Sunday in a statement, said that the substances were suspected to be heroin, codeine, Arizona and Colorado variants of cannabis.

On September 8, the Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, had announced the interception of about N6 billion worth of Amphetamine, popularly known as jihadists’ drug, at the Apapa port in Lagos.

Babafemi said that the first seizure came on September 3 at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA; where two consignments containing 10.350kg heroin and 25.2kg cannabis from South Africa, were intercepted. He said that a series of sting operations were carried out between September 4 and 6 in different parts of Lagos, where four suspects were arrested.

According to him, at the Tin-Can Seaport, Apapa; narcotic officers intercepted a 40ft container loaded with 22,590 kilogrammes of Barcadin Codeine syrup on September 6; following intelligence received from international partners on the container since May 2021

“The container was also found to include 4,020.03 kg of analgesic tablets and 47 cartons of insulated hot pots used to conceal the illicit drugs, all imported from India.

“Equally, on Friday, September 10, a consignment of Colorado weighing 17.5kg and hidden inside a Grand Caravan Dodge vehicle shipped in a 40ft container from Montreal, Canada, was also intercepted and seized at the Tincan port,” he said.

Babafemi said that a 20-year-old graduate (name withheld), was arrested in Abuja for producing and selling drugged candies and cookies. Further, he stated that a 27-year-old dispatch rider, (name withheld); who handles door-to-door delivery for the female suspect, was also arrested.

“The suspects, who were arrested at Garkil, Area 11, on Friday, 10th September; with a number of their drugged products and 400 grams of Loud and Arizona; confessed they had been in the drug business for over a year,” he said.

Also, the spokesman said the NDLEA seized a total of 1,425.2 kilogrammes of compressed blocks of cannabis sativa during a raid on Aviosi outskirt; close to Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo, on September 6. Babafemi added that on the same day, one suspect was arrested along Zaria-Danja road, Kaduna; with 10.3kg Tramadol and 60.5kg Exol-6; while one other was arrested at Tudun Wada area of Jalingo, in Taraba, with 44.2kg of cannabis.

He said operatives in Kwara, September 7, arrested a 36-year-old lady; who recently completed a jail sentence following her conviction by a Federal High Court in Ilorin; for dealing in 22 grams of crack cocaine. The spokesman said that her latest arrest along Specialist Hospital Road, Alagbado, Ilorin; followed intelligence that she had resumed sale of crack cocaine in Ilorin metropolis.

“This time round, she devised another means of delivering drugs along the road to known customers who contact her via telephone calls,” Babafemi said.

Meanwhile, he revealed that raids were carried out across Gombe State, between September 1 and September 10; which led to the arrest of at least nine drug dealers from whom assorted illicit drugs weighing over 150kg were recovered.

Babafemi said that in one of such raids; a DAF truck loaded with 128kg of psychotropic substances coming from Onitsha, Anambra, along Gombe-Yola road, was intercepted.

He said that the Chairman of the NDLEA, Marwa, commended the commanders; as well as officers and men of the commands where the seizure were made.