The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant seizure of opioids worth N3.4 billion in Lagos and Port Harcourt. The agency intercepted 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup in the two states.
In Port Harcourt, the bulk of the seizure was made during a joint examination of a watch-listed container at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex. NDLEA operatives recovered 2 million pills of Tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup. In Lagos, 1,500,000 pills of a controlled opioid were recovered from a suspect in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo.
The NDLEA has also made several arrests in connection with the seizures. A businessman was arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy with 8,130 pills of tramadol. Another suspect was arrested with 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 20kg, concealed in tins of chocolate and other goods at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has praised the operatives for their efforts and directed that suspects and exhibits be transferred to the appropriate security agencies for further action. The NDLEA’s efforts have yielded significant results, with multiple suspects arrested and large quantities of illicit drugs seized.
In addition to the seizures in Lagos and Port Harcourt, the NDLEA has made several other arrests across the country. In Kaduna, a suspect was arrested with 942 explosives concealed in a sack. In Kano, five members of a syndicate were arrested with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg. In Edo state, a vehicle conveying assorted opioids was intercepted, and a suspect was taken into custody.
The NDLEA’s commitment to reducing drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria has led to significant seizures and arrests. The agency’s efforts have demonstrated its determination to tackle the scourge of illicit drugs in the country.
