NDLEA intercepts N3.3bn worth of meth, synthetic cannabis, arrests three businessmen
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking in Nigeria, seizing N3.3 billion worth of methamphetamine and “loud” – a potent synthetic strain of cannabis — in a historic interception at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the intercepted drugs were concealed in automobile spare parts imported from Canada.
The drugs, which included a combined total of 83.301 kilograms of methamphetamine and 867.5 kilograms of “loud,” were carefully hidden in two separate shipments.
The breakthrough followed months of painstaking, intelligence-driven tracking by NDLEA operatives across three continents.
It was gathered that the shipments were closely monitored from their point of origin in Canada, where the cargo began its journey in October, and continued across multiple countries before reaching Nigeria in December.
According to the statement, the first shipment, which contained over five kilograms of methamphetamine, was intercepted on December 5 after it arrived at the port and was linked to a businessman, Isaac Onwumere, who was promptly arrested.
This shipment was disguised as a Toyota Camry and contained a hidden bag wrapped in a bedsheet.
The second shipment, which was intercepted the following day, concealed 1,735 parcels of “loud” cannabis, packed in 44 jumbo bags, along with 87 packs of methamphetamine weighing 78.3 kilograms. Two more businessmen have been arrested in connection with this massive haul.
The combined value of the seized drugs has been estimated at N2.1 billion for the methamphetamine and N124.9 million for the synthetic cannabis.
The seizures were made possible through the collaborative efforts of NDLEA’s Special Operations Units, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and other port stakeholders during a joint examination of the containers.
It further revealed the intricate details of the operation, explaining that the first shipment came under NDLEA’s radar on October 4 in Toronto, Canada.
From there, the cargo was meticulously tracked through various locations in Montreal, Belgium, and finally to Lagos. The second shipment followed a similar route, with continuous surveillance ensuring its interception before it could reach its destination.
“The intelligence-driven operation represents a monumental achievement in the NDLEA’s ongoing fight against narcotics trafficking. It is the result of hard work, precision, and collaboration between our operatives and international partners,”the statement added.
