The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully thwarted attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol to Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
On October 28, 2024, NDLEA officers intercepted drug shipments concealed within body cream containers and pieces of artwork at various courier companies in Lagos State.
Additionally, on October 29, 2024, the agency seized 754,000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen at the Apapa seaport during a joint operation with Nigerian Customs Service and other security agencies.
In another operation in the Federal Capital Territory, 24-year-old Mujahid Hamisu was arrested with 147,000 tramadol pills concealed in plumbing materials along the Kwali-Gwagwalada-Abuja Expressway.
Hamisu was on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State on November 2, 2024.
Another suspect, Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives the same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri Junction area of the FCT.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba-Obajana Highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth N4,353,200.
Another suspect, Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle going from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja-Okene-Abuja Road on October 30 with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg.
A notorious drug dealer, Usman Abba (alias Timaya), who has been on the watchlist of the Katsina State Command of the NDLEA was on October 30 arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis.
The same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State arrested a suspect, Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.
In Taraba State, operatives on November 1 arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo Local Government Area with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of the same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo State on October 28.
A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on October 2 arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo State led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm Road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.
Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Instances include WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Sanganare, Adamawa State; students of College of Arts and Islamic Studies, Tungan Magajiya, Niger State; students and staff of Regina Catholic International College, Obehie, Abia State; students and teachers of Akinmorin Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo State; as well as students and teachers of Redeemer’s International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
