The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted significant consignments of codeine-based syrup and "loud," a potent strain of cannabis, with a street value of N2,185,000,000.00 at the Port Harcourt seaport, Onne, Rivers State, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos State. This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, June 2.
At Lagos airport, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, seized a consignment of loud on May 31, 2024. The drug, packed in eight suitcases containing 320 parcels weighing 164.50kg, was estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00. The consignment, which arrived from Canada via Amsterdam, was intercepted at the E-arrival hall by NDLEA and Customs personnel. The suspect, Ughenu Nnaife Francis, who attempted to smuggle the suitcases, revealed during the investigation that he was recruited to transport the drug for a fee of N6 million.
In another major operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex on May 27. The container, imported from India en route to a bonded terminal in Enugu, contained 1,750 cartons of codeine, weighing 26,250kg and containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid, valued at N1,225,000,000. The discovery was made during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.
Additionally, NDLEA arrested a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, with 1.0kg methamphetamine on the Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway on May 31, and a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on May 29. Further operations in Ekiti State led to the arrest of Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, with 426kg of cannabis sativa, and the destruction of over 4,000kg of the substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on May 30.
In Katsina State, NDLEA officers seized 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, on May 29. The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities across schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities nationwide. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the officers for their efforts in reducing the availability of illicit substances and urged them to remain vigilant and collaborative with other agencies.
One thought on “Port Harcourt and Lagos Burst: NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Worth Over N2 Billion in Major Operations”