The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking with several significant arrests and interdictions over the past week.
According to a statement sent to Africa Health Report (AHR) by the director of media and advocacy Femi Babafemi on Sunday, At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur, was apprehended while attempting to board Air France flight 844 to Paris, France, after ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine.
Orizu was detained at the boarding gate on Sunday, December 22, 2024, during routine passenger screening.
Despite initially refusing a body scan, citing a medical condition, he was placed under observation and subsequently excreted the drug wraps over seven days.
The Lagos-based trader, who owns a shop in Balogun Market selling school and travel bags, admitted that he was promised €3,000 for successfully delivering the consignment to Paris.
In another operation, NDLEA’s Marine Command intercepted two boats at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos, on Christmas Eve.
The boats carried 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis. Six foreign nationals were arrested, including two Ghanaians Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33) and four Beninese, Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21)
In Katsina, operatives apprehended Ibrahim Shaibu (35) on Christmas Day at Central Motor Park with 40 parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35kg.
Another suspect, Umar Ahmed (47), was intercepted on December 28 along Zaria-Malumfashi Road with 13.5kg of the same substance.
In Edo State, a raid on December 23 at New Lagos Road, Benin City, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo.
Items recovered included:
32,490 pills of tramadol (225mg, 200mg, 100mg), 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup and Various other opioids
The NDLEA complemented its enforcement operations with advocacy campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Sensitization lectures were held in Lagos and Adamawa States, targeting schools, communities, and religious organizations.
Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the operatives for their dedication and urged them to maintain the momentum in the fight against drug cartels and continue WADA campaigns into the new year.
