NDLEA Seizes US, Europe-Bound Cocaine, Opioids Concealed In Shoe Soles, Clothes 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate and ketamine injection, among others concealed in soles of shoes, clothes and other items being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus.

The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement he issued on Sunday.

Babafemi said while no less than 250 grams of cocaine going to Cyprus was hidden in soles of custom-made shoes, over five kilograms of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations in clothes and other household items meant to be shipped through some courier firms in Lagos State.

In the same vein, a consignment of 440 grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, coming from Canada to Lagos was equally intercepted by operatives in one of the logistic companies.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on July 10, 2024 intercepted a vehicle marked: Abuja GWA 273 DD, at Ewu Junction, Esan Central Local Government Area following credible intelligence.

The luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was searched and found to contain custard containers, where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder.

In his statement, the suspect claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra State and he was taking them to the Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to sell.

In another operation, operatives on July 11 raided the Ohen forest, Abudu area of Edo State and destroyed 5,429.751kg of cannabis on 2.918 hectares of farmlands, where four suspects: Godday Ariye, 37; Friday Okafor, 59; Obinna Nwosu, 48; and Yusuf Adamu, 27, were arrested.

Similarly, 300 kilograms of  the same substance were recovered from Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West LGA when NDLEA officers raided the location on July 13.

In Ogun State, operatives on July 9 recovered a total of 2,865 kilograms of cannabis at Afami Ibese, while the suspected owner, Umar Ibese, is currently at large.

At least, 2,455 kilograms of materials for the production of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, were recovered from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga LGA, Borno State on July 9 when NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with men of the Nigerian Army raided the area.

The following day, July 10, operatives in Katsina State arrested 54-year-old Sabo Sule with 47kg cannabis in Katsina town.

In Lagos State, operatives on July 8 raided a warehouse in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, where they recovered 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide, popularly called laughing gas; 108 cartons of fast gas cylinder; 134 pieces of balloon; and 109 cartons of infusion charger, among others.

A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.

These included WADA enlightenment lecture for students of St. Louis Grammar School Senior, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State; students and staff of Infant Jesus Model Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom State; students and teachers of Ede High School, Ede, Osun State; students of Government Day Secondary School, Kalga Gari, Daura, Katsina State; and students of Rehoboth Secondary School, Okpuno Awka, Anambra State, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Edo, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Lagos and FCT Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities, while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.