• Destroys Over 100,000kg Cannabis in Ekiti Forest
Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant strides in the fight against drug trafficking with the interception of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids concealed in female sanitary pads and hair cream containers, bound for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Cyprus. The seizures were made in three courier companies in Lagos, marking another victory for the agency in its efforts to curb drug smuggling.
In a press statement released on Sunday, September 8, 2024, by the NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, it was revealed that on Tuesday, September 3, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 30 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms hidden in hair cream containers. These were intended for shipment to Ireland. Just three days later, on Friday, September 6, another 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 862 grams, also concealed in hair cream containers, were intercepted en route to the UK.
Additionally, on the same Tuesday, September 3, NDLEA operatives seized 525 pills of tramadol (225mg) and ecstasy (MDMA) hidden in sanitary pads destined for Cyprus. Another interception occurred on Wednesday, September 4, when 200 ampoules of promethazine injection and pentazocine injection were found concealed in food items and herbs bound for London, UK. Further enforcement on Friday, September 6, led to the seizure of tramadol 225mg tablets hidden in granulated melon from Cameroon, set for shipment to South Africa.
At the Port Harcourt International Airport, the NDLEA collaborated with the Nigerian Customs Service on Monday, September 2, to seize 550,000 tramadol pills from a shipment that arrived from Delhi, India. A suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Ekiti State Cannabis Bust
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives, with support from the Nigerian Army, launched an extensive operation in the Ise-Ekiti forest reserve on September 3 and 4. The raid resulted in the destruction of over 100,000 kilograms of cannabis spread across 51 hectares of farmland. The farms, located in settlements including Aba Saalaja (23 hectares), Aba Paanu (12 hectares), and Aba Arogunmatidi (16 hectares), were all razed in the operation.
### Arrests and Raids Across Nigeria
Further operations across the country led to multiple arrests and drug recoveries. On Friday, September 6, two suspects, Bala Musa, 42, and Danladi Muhammad, 44, were arrested along the Toro-Jos road in Kaduna. They were caught with 305 kilograms of cannabis hidden in a false compartment of a J5 boxer bus. On the same day, another suspect, Aminu Ayuba, 24, was arrested with 18 kilograms of cannabis in Makarfi town, Kaduna. Two more suspects, Umar Usman, 40, and Zubairu Kabiru, 45, were arrested along the Zaria-Kaduna highway with 1,300 tramadol tablets.
In Jigawa State, Uzairu Ya'u, 30, was arrested on September 5 with 32.6 kilograms of cannabis in Koran Shehu. Meanwhile, in Kogi State, a raid on a commercial bus along the Aloma-Ejule road on Wednesday, September 4, led to the seizure of 77,300 pills of tramadol, diazepam, exol-5, and 1,230 bottles of codeine. The driver, 68-year-old Attai Okolo, was arrested. On Tuesday, September 3, Mohammed Idris, 56, was caught with 42.4 kilograms of cannabis while traveling on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway en route to Kano.
In Borno State, Idris Muhammad, 40, was arrested on September 5 with 13,100 tramadol pills in Maiduguri. In Kano, on September 4, NDLEA officers apprehended Hakilu Usman, 35, with 25.8 kilograms of cannabis and 3,000 diazepam pills along the Kano-Daura road.
In Taraba State, 87,790 tramadol pills were recovered from Musa Adamu, 30, in Zing, while a raid in Osun State led to the arrest of drug kingpin Mayowa Abayomi Awe (alias Bishop) in Ilesa. The operation on September 4 resulted in the seizure of 43 grams of crack cocaine, 23 grams of methamphetamine, 17.126 kilograms of cannabis, and a locally made pistol.
### NDLEA's Ongoing War Against Drug Abuse
The NDLEA continues its efforts to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. Recent sensitization activities were carried out at Kano State Polytechnic, Don Bosco Science Academy in Ekpoma, Peace Corps members in Osogbo, and the Council of Traditional Rulers in Abakaliki, among other places.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved in these operations and urged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.
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