Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Phillip Inya, a self-identified building engineer, for attempting to retrieve concealed drugs hidden in pressure machines imported from South Africa. The arrest is part of a series of operations nationwide that resulted in significant drug seizures and arrests.
A statement today by the agency's spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Egwu, 42, was arrested on Monday, December 2, 2024, at Okeyson Motor Park in Enugu when he arrived to collect three pressure machines containing 7.40 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis. The shipment had initially arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on November 29, 2024. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA officers monitored the consignment through the clearing process before the pick-up point was changed to Enugu, leading to Egwu’s arrest in a follow-up operation.
In Adamawa State, operatives intercepted 511,000 tramadol pills from a Siena vehicle at Hildi, along Askira Uba road, in the early hours of Friday, December 6. The vehicle’s occupants abandoned it and fled upon spotting the NDLEA team on patrol.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects, Olanrewaju Alale (48) and Babatunde Kayode Ijadahun (55), along Ise-Emure road while transporting 108 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,323 kilograms in a J5 bus. The suspects claimed the consignment was destined for Owo, Ondo State, and then the North for distribution. In a related operation, Adekunle Yusuf (33) was caught with 704 kilograms of cannabis concealed in white sacks on Idere road, Igboora, Oyo State.
In Lagos, a 65-year-old grandmother, Ramata Bola Adeyemo, was arrested at 62 Odunfa Street, Lagos Island, where 20.6 liters of codeine-based syrup were seized. Another arrest involved Alhaji Lawan Manga, apprehended on December 5 at Ogundana Street, Ikeja, with 4.7 kilograms of cannabis and 1.3 kilograms of tramadol in his possession.
Nationwide Sensitization Efforts
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitization programs targeting schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. Highlights of the past week include lectures at Progressive Secondary School, Ado Awaye (Oyo State); Muslim Grammar School, Ede (Osun State); and Government Girls College, Maiduguri (Borno State), among others. The Lagos Command also organized enlightenment sessions for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Orile Agege.
NDLEA Commendations
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the operational successes of the MMIA, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo Commands. He praised their balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand, affirming the agency's commitment to creating a drug-free society.
The NDLEA continues to intensify its crackdown on drug trafficking while promoting preventive education and awareness nationwide.
