NDLEA seizes N4.3bn worth of opioids, arrests man who swallowed 90 pellets of cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted two containers of illicit opioids at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State, with a combined street value of N4.3 billion.

This significant seizure was made on Thursday during a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies. 

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday revealed that one of the containers contained 168,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at N1.176 billion. The second container held 4.5 million pills of super royal tramadol 225mg, worth N3.15 billion. Together, the two shipments contributed to a total seizure of N4.3 billion in opioids.

Babafemi further stated that 64 kilograms of cannabis sativa were seized at the Akinyele Motor Park in Ibadan, Oyo State, on the same day. Additionally, over 1,200 kilograms of cannabis were confiscated across various locations in Edo State, including 507kg from a compound in Ovia Local Government Area where two suspects, David Ojo Ederin, 60, and Afoje Frank, 24, were arrested.

The NDLEA also reported that 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 23.25kg, were intercepted at the Tincan seaport in Lagos on November 22.

The narcotics were hidden in two vehicles, a Nissan car and a GMC bus, that had been imported from Canada.

In another development, a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Iheanacho, was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for allegedly ingesting 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 2.019 kilograms.

Iheanacho, who had been under surveillance for three months, was apprehended after arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During excretion observation, he expelled the cocaine pellets in seven separate instances.

Investigations revealed that Iheanacho had traveled from Gabon to Cameroon before flying to Addis Ababa and ultimately to Enugu. He had deliberately complicated his travel route to avoid detection. He claimed that his involvement in drug trafficking was motivated by the desperate need to revive his declining phone and accessories business.

Babafemi also announced the arrest of 42-year-old Ndive Obinna and five others in Okota, Lagos, where 2.412 kilograms of cocaine were seized. In another operation, Chinese national Tianzhen Yen (Jackie), 58, was arrested at a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, where his drug syndicate was dismantled.

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