The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth over N10 billion at Lagos ports and arrested several suspected drug traffickers in a series of coordinated operations across the country.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said operatives arrested 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an attempt to export 3.3 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.
The suspect was arrested after investigations linked him to the intercepted consignment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Four other suspects, including cargo agents, were initially arrested during the investigation.
In a separate operation, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, was arrested in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States.
The agency also recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over N2.2 billion, from a shipment arriving from India, while another consignment of tramadol concealed in containers of black soap and bound for the UK was intercepted at a Lagos courier company.
At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers uncovered 2,388.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, valued at over N7.1 billion, concealed inside three imported vehicles.
Beyond drug seizures, operatives intercepted 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition in separate operations in Katsina and Kaduna States. Two suspects were arrested and later handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
In Edo State, NDLEA raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, recovering 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds, while additional suspects were arrested with large quantities of skunk.
The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across Niger, Kano and Lagos States.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended officers involved in the successful operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and public awareness.