NDLEA recovers 8,268kg of cocaine, arrests 15 drug peddlers in seven states
By Tobi Adetunji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) says it has seized more than 8,268 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, tramadol, methamphetamine and skunk, among others.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday said it had coordinated raids in Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Enugu, Bauchi, Edo and Anambra States.
Babafemi said that no fewer than 15 drug dealers, including a woman on wheelchair, were arrested during the “Offensive Action’’ operations.
He said that the operation which began on Aug. 1, lasted until Saturday across the seven states.
He noted that the raids were aimed at mopping up illicit drugs in the affected states.
He said that the action was directed by the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa against all drug cartels across the country.
Babafemi said that the bulk of the seized drugs were recovered from Ondo State and Edo.
According to him, in Akure, a 27-year-old Omokayode Adedayo was on Friday, arrested on Oda road, Akure South Local Government Area.
Babafemi said that the raids in Akwa Ibom led to the recovery of 64.903 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including 1.203 kilogrammes of crack cocaine from a 26-year-old Nwoye Solomon.
“In Adamawa state, a drug dealer, Ikechukwu Onuh, was arrested at Jimeta, Yola on Thursday with 14.400 kilogrammes of tramadol packaged as diclofenac to evade detection.
“In Enugu State, 19.08 kilogrammes of cocaine and skunk were recovered from three suspects, including a 35-year old cripple, Iyiogwe Chinenye and 25-year-old Aja David.
“Different quantities of cocaine and heroin were also seized from an 18-year-old drug dealer, Jude Chinedu during raids at Inland town area of Onitsha, Anambra.
“More than 59 kilogrammes of a psychotropic substance, pentazocine, was intercepted in a bus from Jos, Plateau to Bauchi State with more than 148 kiligrammes of different variants of skunk.
Meanwhile, different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and skunk going to the UK, Australia, New Zealand and UAE have been intercepted in two courier firms in Lagos, Babafemi said.
He also said that the arrests were made by narcotic officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation in the agency.
