The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its has intercepted a 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms.
It said the drug consignment was intercepted by operatives
while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
He said the intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday , 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and six other vehicles.
According to him, the seized vehicles include a Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.
The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State, Babafemi said in the statement.
He said : “In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.
“No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) in NDLEA.
“The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.
” A total of Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred (338,200) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than One Billion One Hundred and Ninety Million One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira (N1,190,168,200.00) in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.
“The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday, 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.”
Also, the NDLEA said : “In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.
“Though, two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.
“A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday , 9th January where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him. ”
Babafemi explained that the various commands and formations of the NDLEA also intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities during the week under review.
He said the sensitization activities took them to
schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others.
“These include WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos State; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno State; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi State, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others,” the statement said.
In his reaction, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
