Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have made several arrests and seizures of illicit drugs across Nigeria. On April 14, the agency intercepted consignments of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (designer drug), and cannabis concealed in winter jackets and bottles of body cream at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The drugs were recovered following the arrest of a passenger, Joshia Sunday, who was traveling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, Middle East. A thorough search of the suspect’s two black bags led to the discovery of 4.80 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of Tramadol, Rohypnol, and Ecstasy (designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion.
In a separate incident on the same day, a Lekki Lagos-based businessman, Cyril Chidiebere, was arrested with two of his freight agents, Mejabi Sunday and Oyeyinka Babatunde, over their involvement in the importation of 12 parcels of loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 6.50kg, which was part of a consolidated cargo brought in from the United States of America. The arrest and seizure followed a three-day intelligence-led operation.
In another operation on April 14, operatives in Lagos arrested two suspects, Nonso Peter, 21, and Bright Chibike, 23, with 43.4kg of cannabis at Ile-Epo, Abule Egba area of the state. Meanwhile, in Katsina State, no fewer than 1,730 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized from a suspect, Bishir Saadu, in Katsina metropolis on April 9, just as Muhamadu Yusuf was also arrested on the same day with 8,000 capsules of tramadol inside a commercial bus along Kano-Katsina road.
Furthermore, on April 15, NDLEA operatives arrested a pregnant woman, Rabetu Abdulrasak, 24, and a cripple, Shehu Adams, in Agbede, Etsako West, Edo State, while over 14 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol, and swinol were recovered from them.
The agency also arrested a 22-year-old HND 1 female student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Isoyo Susan, on April 14, for dealing in illicit drugs. Recovered from her include 1,100ML of codeine-based cough syrup and 283 grams of cannabis.
All the suspects arrested are currently undergoing investigations, and the agency has reiterated its commitment to eradicating the scourge of illicit drug trafficking and abuse in the country. NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, warned that the agency will not rest on its oars until the illicit drug trade is completely eradicated from Nigeria. The agency has also called on members of the public to report any suspicious activities or persons involved in drug trafficking to the nearest NDLEA office.