Otamere Gladness 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than ₦10 billion at Lagos ports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, arresting suspected drug kingpins and recovering military-grade ammunition in coordinated operations across Nigeria.
The anti-narcotics agency disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, saying the operations targeted international drug trafficking networks attempting to smuggle cocaine, synthetic opioids and cannabis into and out of the country.
Among those arrested was Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old Balogun Market trader, who was allegedly behind the attempted export of 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside the walls of foodstuff cartons bound for the United Kingdom.
NDLEA said the arrest followed the earlier detention of three cargo agents and a delivery man, who led investigators to the suspected syndicate leader.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, operatives also arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, after she allegedly arrived from the United States with 2.80 kilogrammes of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.
In separate operations, officers intercepted Tapentadol consignments valued at more than ₦2.2 billion imported from India and recovered tramadol concealed inside black soap containers destined for the United Kingdom, highlighting increasingly sophisticated concealment methods employed by drug traffickers.
At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, weighing 2,388.5 kilogrammes and estimated to have a street value exceeding ₦7.1 billion, hidden inside a container of imported vehicles.
In separate security operations in Katsina and Kaduna states, the agency arrested Mustapha Sani and Abubakar Amadu after recovering 323 rounds and 73 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in vehicles and oil kegs, respectively.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Abah Felicity 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 