NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs worth over N960m in eight suitcases at Lagos airport

…Intercepts N2.1bn worth of codeine, loud, methamphetamine in multiple raids

By Sodiq Adelakun

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of significant seizures of illicit drugs at various locations in the country.

A large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, with an estimated value of N960 million.

The agency’s operatives also intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup, Loud (a synthetic strain of cannabis), and methamphetamine with a combined street value of over N2.1 billion.

At the Port Harcourt seaports, NDLEA officers discovered 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250 kg, containing 175,000 bottles worth N1.225 billion.

In Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0 kg of methamphetamine, while a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, was caught with 57.2 kg of cannabis in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday stated that the agency’s operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies, conducted joint search operations to intercept the drugs.

The suspects arrested are being investigated, and the agency is working to dismantle the drug trafficking networks involved.

“Two suspects, Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000 kg of the same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday, May 30.

“In Katsina State, 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42 kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria-Malumfashi Road on Wednesday, May 29.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina, and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures.