NDLEA seizes N5bn worth of tramadol in three states
…Records cocaine seizure in Port Harcourt, arrests seven suspects in Kano
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized no less than 9.5 million tablets of Tramadol and Exol 5 worth over N5 billion in three states.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the Pharmaceutical Opioids were seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja and Edo state respectively.
He said that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
“Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated street value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday March 29.
“This is alongside the seizure of 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs at the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.
“In Abuja, about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted on Friday, April 1, at Abaji area of the FCT. The truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano.
“Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23, and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, three-drug joints were raided at Wire road, Benin City, and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA of Edo where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested.
Babafemi said that one Harrison Odion, a patent medicine dealer was arrested with 70 bottles of codeine based cough syrup in another raid in Okada town, Edo state.
He said that 9,638 Tramadol capsules; 16,843 tablets of Exol-5; 80 tablets of Diazepam and 62 ampules of Diazepam injection were seized.
He added that NDLEA operatives in the state also destroyed seven clusters of dry season Cannabis Sativa farms in Okpuje Forest along the banks of River Ose totaling 3.124998 hectares.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the working relationship between NDLEA and other security agencies in the country.
Marwa charged officers and men of the MMIA, FCT, and Edo not to rest on their oars.
Meanwhile, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has also recorded the largest cocaine seizure at Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA).
The Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that 39-year-old Nnanna Michael returning from Brazil was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, March 29.
Babafemi said the suspect, who hailed from Ekwusigo, Anambra State was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kilograms of cocaine.
This, he said was the largest seizure of such at the airport, since it began international flight operations years ago.
According to him, during the preliminary interview, Michael said that he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday at midnight en route from Qatar to Port Harcourt.
“He claimed that an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six-bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
“The 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets. Five of the bed sheets contain 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets.
“An immediate follow-up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who traveled from Lagos to pick the drug from Nnenna.
“He was arrested at the airport’s car park where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latter’s photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passport’s Data Page in his hand, “Babafemi said.
In another development, Babafemi said that 17.6kilograms of cannabis was transferred along with a suspect, Ramon Dauda, 40, to the state command of NDLEA by the Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigerian Customs Service.
This is even just as narcotic officers on patrol on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Thursday, March 31 intercepted a consignment of 10kg cannabis and 12.1grams of amphetamine in a commercial bus.
“A follow-up operation in Ilesa, Osun state led to the arrest of the owner of the drug exhibits, Mrs Remi Aluko, 44,” he said.
Babafemi said that at least seven drug dealers were arrested in raids in parts of Kano with 80 kilograms of codeine and pentazocine injection seized from them.
“Those picked in Rijiyar Zaki, Brigade, Yan-Kaba, Tudun Wada, Karfi, Ungogo, and Nassarawa areas of the state include Muhammad Adamu; Abba Sani; and Auwalu Muhammad, among others,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesperson quoted the Chairman, NDLEA retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and Men of PHIA, Oyo, and Kano Commands of the agency.
