Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully dismantled a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four key members and seizing multi-million-naira worth of illicit substances.
The bust, according to a statement today by the agency's spokesperson Femi Babafemi, achieved through intelligence-led operations, uncovered large quantities of tramadol pills concealed in the bumper and false bottom compartments of Sienna buses en route to border towns.
Following weeks of surveillance, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Intelligence intercepted a Sienna bus with registration number ABJ 452 HG at the Nasarawa-Toto road in Keffi, Nasarawa State, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2025. Two suspects, Zahradeen Adamu, 27, and Abubakar Usman, 44, were apprehended in the vehicle, which was found to be transporting illicit drugs from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State. Another Sienna vehicle driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also intercepted.
Upon inspection, NDLEA operatives discovered specially constructed steel compartments in the vehicles, concealing a total of 190,960 tramadol pills. The drugs were hidden behind the back bumper and in the space originally meant for the spare tire.
Investigations traced the supply chain to an Onitsha-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri. A follow-up operation on January 29 led to Mbaeri’s arrest at his residence on Uga Street, Onitsha, where NDLEA agents also seized two vehicles – a Toyota Corolla (FGG 948 MF) and a Toyota Sienna (GWA 23 HH) – believed to be used for drug distribution.
In a separate operation on February 4, NDLEA operatives from the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus at the Abaji checkpoint in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A passenger, Chimezie Henry Ojingwa, 32, was arrested while attempting to smuggle 404.47 grams of methamphetamine, 506.49 grams of Loud (a synthetic strain of cannabis), and 262.32 grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor chemical for meth production. The drugs were concealed inside auto spare parts.
Similarly, in Cross River State, NDLEA officers patrolling the Ogoja-Abakaliki road in Yahe intercepted a truck on February 13, seizing 170,000 tramadol pills. The truck driver, Paul Chukwudi, 31, was arrested on the spot.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa Seaport on February 11 confiscated 85,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden inside a shipping container imported from India. The agency has since launched investigations to trace the consignee and the intended distribution network.
Additional operations led to the arrest of suspects in various states, including Borno, Ekiti, Taraba, and Lagos:
In Borno, on February 14, Halilu Isa and Gambo Umaru were caught with 60 compressed blocks of skunk (a cannabis strain) weighing 72kg at Bama Road, Maiduguri.
In Ekiti, on February 11, a raid on a notorious drug den at Iloda Street, Ikole-Ekiti, led to the arrest of three suspects – Bala Muhammed, 57; Yahaya Adamu, 55; and Abdullahi Shehu, 30 – with 83kg of skunk.
In Taraba, on February 15, Ibrahim Usman, 40, and Solomon James, 40, were arrested with a combined total of 132.84kg of skunk in Wukari and Takanaba, Sabongari, respectively.
In Lagos, Samiat Olabisi Yussuf, 28, was arrested at her Lekki residence on February 15, where NDLEA agents recovered 169.5 litres of nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) and 111 grams of Loud.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA has continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, engaging schools, workplaces, and religious centers nationwide. Notable sensitization efforts in the past week included lectures at Government Technical College (Akwa Ibom), Future Leaders Academy (Oyo), Government Secondary School (Sokoto), Ehere Comprehensive School (Abia), and Jesuit College (Ekiti). The Kano State Command also hosted an enlightenment session for married women in purdah at the Markaz Umar Bn Khattab Centre.
Commending the NDLEA officers involved in the nationwide crackdown, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and abuse. He praised operatives for their unwavering dedication to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring public safety through enforcement and advocacy.
The NDLEA has vowed to sustain its momentum in intercepting illicit drug shipments, bringing perpetrators to justice, and educating communities on the dangers of substance abuse.
