The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000kg of cannabis, in a series of operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the seizures had a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion.
The operations were carried out in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the FCT. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved and urged them to sustain intelligence-driven operations against drug trafficking.
One of the major seizures involved 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, who the NDLEA alleged had been impersonating a senior police officer to avoid scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs between states.
Ekpe was arrested on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk allegedly concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations indicated that Ekpe allegedly identified himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and used a forged police identification card.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai at a location along Agbor Road, Benin City. The agency alleged that Ossai used his auto-repair workshop to store illicit drugs.
Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grammes of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used to keep the substances.
At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada. A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The consignment was reportedly concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the container.
In Niger State, three suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area. The NDLEA said they were found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Two other suspects were arrested along the Abaji-Abuja Highway with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets. The drugs were allegedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg. Officers also intercepted seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg at a logistics company, resulting in the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
Another suspect, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested at Apongbo with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, while NDLEA operatives in Imo State arrested a 25-year-old man with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest. The NDLEA said 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed during the operation, while 48kg of dried and fresh cannabis was recovered.
Beyond the seizures and arrests, the NDLEA said its commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns during the week.
The campaigns included awareness lectures for students and staff at schools in Oyo, Anambra, Lagos and Taraba states. The agency also carried out an advocacy visit to a traditional ruler in Delta State as part of efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of illicit drug use and trafficking.
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