Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a major breakthrough, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered large quantities of illicit substances in Lagos.
The agency’s efforts led to the recovery of 2,760kg of suspected Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, from Igbo-Igunuko shrine located at Alfa Beach in Ajah, as well as an underground storage in Lekki areas of Lagos.
Two suspects, Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun, according to the NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Further investigation led to the discovery of an underground storage in the bedroom of one Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi, located at Marwa Coastal Road, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos.
The storage contained 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, rohypnol, and diazepam, as well as 64 bottles of codeine syrup. Abdullahi had cleverly concealed the storage by covering it with a padlocked iron slate and rug, and then placing his mattress on top to avoid detection.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted consignments of opioids concealed in soles of shoes and hair attachments heading to the United States, United Kingdom, and Cyprus.
The agency’s operatives recovered 2,118 pills of tramadol concealed in soles of 13 pairs of shoes going to Cyprus, and an additional 380 tablets were recovered from the home of the sender, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, during a follow-up operation in Enugu.
The NDLEA also intercepted 293 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injection, and 1.690kg cannabis and tramadol tablets concealed in hair attachments and soles of shoes going to the United States, United Kingdom, and Oman at three courier firms.
Additionally, the agency recovered 26,250,000 pills of tramadol and 508,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N16,683,800,000 in street value during a joint examination of watch-listed containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan Port in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers states.
A suspect, Tsolaye Eburajolo, 40, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 28kg, which arrived at the Lagos port from Canada. A bribe of N10 million paid to NDLEA officers to free the suspect has been kept as part of the exhibits for the prosecution of the case.
In Babafemi’s statement, “In the same vein, a total of 26,250,000 pills of tramadol as well as 508,400 bottles of codeine based syrup worth Sixteen Billion Six Hundred and Eighty Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N16, 683, 800,000) in street value were intercepted by NDLEA operatives during 100 percent joint examination of watch-listed containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan Port in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers states between Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October.
“Other illicit consignments intercepted during the joint inspection of the containers include 10 million tablets of Toradol Benzhexol and 28 plastic drums of methamphetamine weighing 700kg at Tincan and Onne respectively, while 56 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 28kg were also recovered from a container that arrived the Lagos port from Canada.
“A suspect, Tsolaye Eburajolo, 40, was arrested at Ago Palace area of Okota Lagos in connection with the cannabis seizure while a bribe of N10million paid NDLEA officers to free the suspect has been kept as part of the exhibits for the prosecution of the case,” he said
