Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multi-billion-naira shipments of Methamphetamine and Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, destined for distribution during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The contraband, concealed in automobile spare parts imported from Canada, was seized at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos after months of intelligence-driven tracking across three continents.
For the first time in its history, the NDLEA recovered two separate methamphetamine consignments totaling 83.301 kilograms on December 12th and 13th, 2024. The shipments, contained within vehicles and spare parts from Canada, were headed to warehouses in the Ladipo automobile parts market in Mushin, Lagos.
The first seizure involved 5.001 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a bag wrapped in a bedsheet inside a Toyota Camry car. This shipment, intercepted on December 12th, led to the arrest of businessman Isaac Onwumere. The following day, NDLEA operatives uncovered a larger consignment containing 1,735 parcels of Loud weighing 867.5 kilograms, alongside 78.3 kilograms of methamphetamine stored in six plastic coolers. Two businessmen, Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe, were apprehended in connection with this seizure.
Street Value and Seizure Details
The combined street value of the methamphetamine (83.301 kg) is N124.9 million, while the Loud (867.5 kg) is worth N2.17 billion. Both shipments underwent rigorous tracking from their origins in Toronto, Canada, to Lagos, Nigeria, passing through Montreal, Canada, and Antwerp, Belgium, before arriving at Lagos Port in early December.
Rivers State Opioid Seizure
In a related operation, NDLEA officers intercepted 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N4.45 billion at the Onne Port in Rivers State. The consignments, shipped from India, were seized during joint examinations conducted on December 9th, 11th, and 13th, 2024, involving NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.
WADA Sensitization Campaigns
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts across the country. Activities included lectures at educational institutions such as City Comprehensive College, Ogidi, Anambra; Government Secondary School, Toungo, Adamawa; and Bonny Camp Primary School, Lagos. Community engagements in Tapa, Oyo State, also highlighted the agency's commitment to combating drug abuse at grassroots levels.
Commendations and Warnings
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the officers involved in these landmark operations. He emphasized the agency's robust intelligence capabilities and warned drug cartels that their illicit trade would result in significant losses if they persist.
“These operational successes are a clear message to drug barons that the NDLEA is watching every move they make,” Marwa stated. “Our capacity to track and intercept consignments before they reach Nigerian shores is unmatched. The war against drug trafficking will not relent.”
The NDLEA's recent operations underscore its resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and safeguard communities during the festive season and beyond.
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