N3.4bn drug haul: NDLEA arrests fake policeman, mechanic, 2 teenagers with 47 rifles

Stanley Ihedigbo

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N3.4 billion, including over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids and about 6,000 kilograms of cannabis, in intelligence-led operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The operations, conducted in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and Abuja, also led to the arrest of a suspected fake police officer who allegedly used a forged identity card to evade checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs.

According to the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, that its operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 603.75 kilograms and valued at N1.811 billion.

The agency said the consignment was intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, following intelligence that prompted the monitoring of a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada.

The container, which arrived on September 12, was subjected to a joint physical examination by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on September 16.

According to the agency, the search uncovered the 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded within two Toyota Sienna vehicles inside the container.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old suspect, Innocent Ekpe, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, on September 16.
Ekpe was allegedly transporting 292.48 kilograms of skunk in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.

The agency said preliminary investigation established that the suspect had allegedly impersonated a Deputy Superintendent of Police under the name Godwin Emeka, using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints.

A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.

The agency alleged that Ossai used the workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs.
NDLEA said 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from the premises, alongside a metal box allegedly used for storing the drugs.

Meanwhile, three young suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The suspects, Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were arrested on September 15 with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

In another operation along the Abaji-Abuja Highway on September 18, NDLEA operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.

The agency said more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from the suspects.

The drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

In Lagos, NDLEA arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on September 18, recovering 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

The agency also intercepted seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59 kilograms at a logistics company, where a suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was taken into custody.

Another suspect, Ibrahim Hudu, 43, was arrested at Apongbo on September 17 with 998.38 kilograms of nitrous oxide gas.

In Gombe State, NDLEA said 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.

The suspects were arrested at the Barunde area and the Gombe Main Market, respectively, on September 18.

In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85 kilograms of skunk.

In Ondo State, four suspects—Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday—were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.

The operation, conducted on September 15, also destroyed 5,000 kilograms of cannabis plants, while 48 kilograms of dry and fresh cannabis were recovered for prosecution purposes, according to the agency.

Beyond its interdiction operations, NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week.

The agency conducted drug-abuse awareness programmes at schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, including St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.

The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for what he described as their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.

Marwa urged NDLEA personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining interdiction operations with preventive education and community sensitisation.