The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids concealed in cartons containing clothes and other items bound for the United Kingdom and Australia.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the agency, said the seizures were made on Friday at a courier company in Lagos during the inspection of outbound shipments.
“A total of 170grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and buried in the walls of a carton of cloths heading to Australia were recovered,” the statement reads.
“A wide range of opioids including 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection were recovered from another carton which has United Kingdom as its final destination.”
The anti-narcotics agency also carried out raids in several states, leading to the seizure of illicit substances and the arrest of suspects.
In Delta state, NDLEA operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani LGA last Sunday, destroying 27,500 kilograms of skunk spread across 11 hectares of farmland, while also recovering 22.9 kilograms of the substance.
The agency said Ifeanyichukwu Peter, a 52-year-old suspect, was later arrested during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku.
“A similar raid in Orogun village, Ughelli North LGA on Tuesday 12th May led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms and recovery of 55.4kg of same psychoactive substance on 15 hectares of farm as well as the arrest of 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera,” the statement reads.
“This brings the total weight of skunk destroyed by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers in the two operations to 65,000 kilograms.
“While 361kg skunk was recovered and a suspect Husaini Suleiman, 42, arrested during a raid operation at Dan Magaji area of Zaria town, Kaduna state on Wednesday 13th May, a large cache of military-grade ammunition was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along Abuja-Kaduna highway, Kaduna on Tuesday 12th May.”
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NDLEA officers arrested Ogadi Peter, a 29-year-old businessman accused of producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties, recovering 800 grams of skunk and 2.70kg of drug-infused cookies from his residence in Life Camp.
The agency also recovered 181kg of skunk from Aliyu Sani during a raid in Ogun state, while Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa was arrested in Taraba state with 105,850 opioid pills, including tramadol and diazepam.
In Oyo state, two suspects, Adeleke Aliyah and Aloba Abdulazeez, were arrested over the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies, while NDLEA operatives in Edo state destroyed more than 1,388 kilograms of skunk on two farms in Ago forest, Orhionmwon LGA.
“A 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2kg pills of tramaking 225mg was recovered from Kofar Ruwa motor park in Kano on Monday 11th May following credible intelligence, while a suspect Aminu Isa was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area of the state same day with 30.5kg skunk,” Babafemi said.
