NDLEA drug raids uncover major illicit drug seizures

NDLEA drug raids across six Nigerian states have led to several arrests and the seizure of large quantities of opioids, cannabis and other illicit drugs.

The operations took place in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states, according to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, who disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement on Sunday.

In Oyo State, officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran, described as a grandfather, and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi. Officers allegedly found 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection inside their Toyota Sienna.

In Kwara, operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, around Kam Wire in Ilorin. They recovered 55.96kg of skunk from a truck.

Delta State also recorded a major seizure. Officers intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway. They recovered 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 Rohypnol tablets, 4,800 diazepam tablets, 470 pentazocine ampoules and 200 tramadol ampoules.

Another Delta operation along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway resulted in the arrest of 50-year-old Emeka Tony. Officers recovered 1,244 cartridges and N8 million from him.

In Plateau State, officers stopped a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. Kasum Sherif was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Kano recorded several major operations. Six suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360 grammes of cocaine, 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain.

The six suspects were Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

The agency also raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano on Friday. Officers arrested Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, and recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.

In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk across two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested at one of the farms.

During another raid on drug joints in Oluku, Benin City, officers arrested 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala and recovered 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

The scale of the NDLEA drug raids highlights the agency’s continuing operations against the movement and production of illicit substances across different parts of the country.

What impact could seizures of this scale have on the supply of illicit drugs across these states?