NDLEA seizes N14.9bn worth of opioids, arrests octogenarian dealer

…As joint operation uncovers large haul of opioids, cannabis amidst ongoing drug war

By Adeyanju Esther

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol, along with 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Tincan port complex in Lagos.

The statement was announced by the Director of Media and Advocacy,  Femi Babafemi, on Sunday at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.

The seizures occurred on September 17 and 20, 2024, involving three containers that were under surveillance due to processed intelligence.

The NDLEA had coordinated with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for a 100 percent joint examination of the shipments. The 25 million pills of tapentadol are valued at approximately 13.725 billion Naira, while the codeine syrup is estimated at 2.45 billion Naira. This brings the total value of the seizures to about 14.95 billion Naira.

Babafemi emphasised that the tapentadol consignment, packed in 500 cartons, was found in one of the containers on September 17. On the same day, another container was examined, revealing 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container, examined on September 20, contained 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine.

Babafemi also reported,On September 20, operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command arrested 80-year-old Pa Aremu Shojobi at his home in Iyana Ipaja, where they found 14 kilograms of cannabis. In his statement, the octogenarian admitted to selling illicit drugs for 25 years, claiming he sources his supplies from Benin Republic and sells to customers from his residence daily between 7 am and 10 pm.

Babafemi noted “On September 18, NDLEA operatives in Lagos raided the homes of Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, the Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West LCDA, recovering a total of 226 kg of cannabis.

Although Talba is currently at large, the operation led to the seizure of 93 compressed blocks weighing 57.6 kg from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, and son, Sadat Bashiru, at their home in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry. Another search at Aketegbo area of Seme Badagry resulted in the recovery of 302 compressed blocks weighing 168.6 kg from his second wife, Hauwa Bashir.

On September 16, NDLEA operatives recovered 720 blocks of Arizona cannabis, weighing 390 kg, from a Mitsubishi delivery van in the Ojo area of Lagos.

Also, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on September 15, a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony, was arrested while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha.

He had ingested 76 wraps of cocaine, which were excreted after three days of observation, totaling 1.267 kg.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway recovered 700,000 pills of Exol-5 on September 17, intended for distribution in Kano and Kaduna.

Meanwhile, on September 20, operatives arrested Udemefuna Chibuike, 23, along the Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State, seizing 49,000 tablets of tramadol, 20,000 tablets of diazepam, 100 ampoules of tramadol injection, and 50 bottles of cough syrup with codeine.

On September 18, a total of 451 blocks of cannabis weighing 213 kg were intercepted along Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The NDLEA apprehended Ogochukwu Paul, 33, who was transporting the consignment to a known drug haven in Borikiri.

On September 20, NDLEA operatives in Plateau State arrested a wanted suspect, Jonathan Ali Abuttur, 46, who was found with 808 kg of cannabis sativa concealed in 68 bags of sugar and fertiliser. In Kwara State, another suspect, Shaibu Musa, was apprehended with 28 kg of the same substance.

Simultaneously, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts, engaging schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities. Recent activities included lectures at Rayhaan Model Academy in Kebbi, Government Day Secondary School in Katsina, Technical College in Enugu, Corpus Christi College in Ekiti, Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, traders at Agboju market in Lagos, and the palace of Oloola of Ilara in Ogun State.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, commended the officers for their operational successes and emphasised the importance of their balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.