Korede Abdullah in Lagos
NDLEA operatives have intercepted six million opioid pills, including tamol, tapentadol, and carisoprodol, alongside 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup valued at ₦6.524 billion at Nigeria’s Port Harcourt and Apapa seaports.
According to NDLEA, these seizures followed intelligence operations that identified new drug trafficking routes, leading to watch-listing and thorough examinations of containers.
At Port Harcourt, joint inspections uncovered six million opioid pills and 162,000 codeine syrup bottles, while a similar exercise at Apapa port revealed 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup.
In a related operation, NDLEA arrested two British nationals and two Nigerians attempting to smuggle 51.10kg of Loud cannabis into Nigeria via Lagos International Airport.
“Alexander was intercepted with the consignment upon his arrival,” said NDLEA Media Director Mr. Femi Babafemi on Sunday.
Alexander confessed to recruitment during a vacation and promised payment of £1,300 for delivery, while the syndicate leader, Adejuwon, admitted recent travel from South Africa via Ghana. Subsequent raids at their Lekki apartment led to the seizure of cash, electronics, and nitrous oxide canisters.
NDLEA continues to dismantle drug operations nationwide, destroying large cannabis farms in Cross River and Edo States and intercepting significant quantities of skunk, tramadol, diazepam, and other substances across multiple states.
In Lagos, raids led to arrests and seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs. NDLEA Chairman Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers, stating, “Our teams have maintained a fair balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts,” highlighting their commitment to combating drug trafficking across Nigeria.
