The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has conducted a series of successful operations resulting in significant drug seizures and arrests across Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, shared this information in a statement on the organization’s social media platform and provided it to Africa Health Report (AHR) on Sunday.
During a significant operation, NDLEA officers discovered a vast storage facility in the Comfort Oboh section of Kirikiri, Lagos State, filled with a substantial amount of codeine-based syrup. Four individuals – Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke, 38; Emeka Emmanuel, 48; Bornaventure Ugochukwu, 59; and Martin Dike, 56 – were taken into custody.
The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 82,000 bottles of the opioid, a Toyota Tacuma truck, and two buses used for distribution. The street value of the seized opioids is estimated to be more than N600 million.
Two days later, on Wednesday, June 12, another suspect, Ibrahim Abdulhamid, was intercepted at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area of Lagos State, with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as 3.9 liters of codeine syrup.
According to the NDLEA, In a separate operation in Kano, 230,600 pills of tramadol were recovered from Yasir Rabi’u, 23, and Abubakar Ado, 30, major distributors in Kano and Jigawa states. The arrests took place on Monday, June 10, at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano. Another suspect, Hassan Abdullahi Ali, 25, was arrested on Tuesday, June 11, with 150 bottles of codeine syrup at Kofar Nassarawa area of Kano.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives seized 390 kg of cannabis during an early morning raid at Ibese area on Monday, June 10, arresting Muhammad Sani, Nura Mohammad, and Samaila Rabe. Additionally, on Wednesday, June 12, officers busted a skuchies production factory in Sabo area of Shagamu town, leading to the arrest of seven suspects and the seizure of 387 liters of skuchies, 70 liters of industrial codeine, 25 kg of cannabis, and various quantities of other drugs.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers destroyed over 10,534 kg of cannabis on 4.2 hectares of farmland in Uhen forest, Ovia North East council area, on Wednesday, June 12. Four suspects were arrested, and 16 kg of processed cannabis was recovered. Similarly, in Ekiti State, 18,425 kg of cannabis on 7.37 hectares of farmland was destroyed.
In Abuja, two suspects, Muhammad Abba, 33, and Samson Ehizogie, 42, were arrested with 3,550 bottles of “Akuskura” during a raid on Friday, June 14. Other significant arrests and seizures were made in Benue, Anambra, Kwara, and Oyo states, highlighting the agency’s nationwide efforts.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, commended the officers involved in these operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to reducing drug supply and demand.
‘Their achievements in operations, along with their colleagues elsewhere in the country, are highly valued. We encourage them to keep up the good work and further enhance their current endeavors.”
