The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) executed a series of successful operations across Nigeria, leading to significant drug seizures and arrests. One of the most noteworthy arrests involved a Chinese businessman, Liang Tak You, apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Tak You, a Malaysian resident, had flown from Thailand via Dubai, carrying two suitcases containing 50 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing over 26 kilograms. NDLEA operatives, having tracked his movements from his departure point, allowed him to clear immigration before apprehending him as he attempted to exit the airport. This meticulously planned operation underscores the agency’s proactive approach to combating drug trafficking.
In a separate incident, the NDLEA arrested 80-year-old Grace Ekpeme in Calabar, Cross River State. She was found in possession of over 3 kilograms of skunk, another type of cannabis. The arrest of Ekpeme, along with that of Tak You, demonstrates the agency’s commitment to pursuing drug traffickers regardless of age or nationality. The NDLEA’s intelligence-gathering capabilities played a crucial role in both these arrests, highlighting the agency’s increasing reliance on proactive investigation techniques.
The nationwide operation extended beyond individual arrests. In Lagos, Chidi Agbafo was intercepted on the Epe-Ajah Expressway while transporting over 21 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain often packaged discreetly, and a substantial quantity of codeine-based syrup. Remarkably, some of the Colorado was disguised in moimoi sachets, a common food packaging, indicating the lengths traffickers will go to conceal their illicit goods. At the Apapa seaport, a joint operation with customs and other security agencies unearthed over 100 kilograms of Canadian Loud concealed within tins of imported food labeled “Bean Salad Mix.” This discovery emphasizes the importance of inter-agency cooperation in disrupting sophisticated smuggling operations.
Further successes were recorded across various states. Along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, Usman Musa was apprehended with 71,000 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5. In Borno State, Binta Usman and her accomplice, Bala Abdullahi, were arrested in connection with 30 kilograms of skunk. A raid on a cannabis plantation in Ondo State led to the arrest of three brothers and the destruction of 2,500 kilograms of skunk. This eradication effort underscores the NDLEA’s focus on dismantling drug cultivation and production networks.
The NDLEA’s operations extended to various parts of the country, leading to further arrests and seizures. In Edo State, Bright Sunday Okon was apprehended with a variety of illegal substances, including Colorado, Loud, Arizona, skunk, and methamphetamine. In Nasarawa State, 105 kilograms of skunk were discovered in an abandoned vehicle. Other seizures included 6,400 tramadol pills in Niger State and 113 kilograms of skunk in Ogun State following a confrontation with a drug dealer and his gang. These incidents demonstrate the pervasiveness of drug trafficking across Nigeria and the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat it.
The NDLEA also made significant seizures of tramadol, a widely abused opioid. Adamu Adamu was arrested in Gombe State with over 10,000 tramadol capsules. In Kogi State, a consignment of skunk hidden within food items was intercepted, leading to the arrest of Kindness Bala, who intended to transport the drugs to Katsina and then Qatar. This incident showcases the international dimension of drug trafficking networks operating within Nigeria. Additionally, a large quantity of tramadol, pentazocine injection, and skunk was recovered from a truck in Kogi State. These seizures highlight the NDLEA’s multi-pronged approach to combat various forms of drug trafficking, intercepting both large shipments and smaller, individual consignments. Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA also focuses on drug demand reduction through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization lectures in schools and engaging with community leaders to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. This comprehensive strategy emphasizes both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem, aiming to create a more impactful and sustainable solution. The NDLEA Chairman commended the officers involved in these operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to both disrupting drug supply chains and reducing demand through education and outreach.
