The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized more than 1.3 million tramadol and other opioid pills and capsules, as well as about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis, in a series of operations across the country.
The agency valued the seized drugs at more than N3.4 billion.
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Among those arrested was a 49-year-old man who allegedly posed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police and used a forged police identity card to move cannabis through security checkpoints in Delta State.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted 603.75 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued by the agency at N1.811 billion, at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
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In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest and seizure were recorded in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Man allegedly posed as police officer
The suspect, Innocent Ekpe, was arrested on 16 September along the Benin–Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, while travelling in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.
NDLEA operatives found 292.48 kilogrammes of skunk in the vehicle, according to the agency.
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Investigators subsequently discovered that Mr Ekpe had allegedly been using the name Godwin Emeka and presenting himself as a deputy superintendent of police.
The agency stated that he used a forged police identity card to get through security checkpoints while transporting drugs between states.
A second suspect, Nduka Joseph, 39, was also arrested.
In Edo State, a raid on an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, led to the arrest of the owner, Matthew Ossai, 45.
NDLEA explained that the workshop was being used to store illicit drugs. Operatives recovered 48 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, 152 grammes of methamphetamine and a metal box from the premises.
N1.8bn cannabis seized at Tin-Can Port
At the Tin-Can Island Port, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies found 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilogrammes.
The consignment was concealed in 31 black jumbo bags inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles loaded into a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada.
The container arrived at the port on 12 September and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the NDLEA.
A joint examination on 16 September uncovered the drugs.
Over one million tramadol pills intercepted
Along the Abaji–Abuja Highway, operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, on 18 September.
More than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules were recovered from eight sacks, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The consignment was allegedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, Onyeka Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on the same day. NDLEA said 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from him.
At a logistics company in the state, operatives intercepted seven cartons containing 59 kilogrammes of cannabis and arrested a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
Another suspect, Ibrahim Hudu, 43, was arrested at Apongbo on 17 September with 998.38 kilogrammes of nitrous oxide gas.
Three arrested with firearms in Niger
Three young men were arrested at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, during a patrol along the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway on 15 September.
They were identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18.
The NDLEA stated that they were carrying two locally fabricated rifles it described as AK-47s, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The weapons were found inside a black travel bag, according to the agency.
Cannabis farm destroyed in Ondo
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The statement noted that the agency carried out an operation on 15 September that led to the destruction of about 5,000 kilogrammes of cannabis plants, while 48 kilogrammes of dry and fresh cannabis were recovered.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
In Gombe State, operatives recovered 154,480 tramadol capsules from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
Mr Umar was arrested in the Barunde area, while Ms Muhammad was arrested at Gombe Main Market on 18 September.
In Imo State, a 25-year-old suspect, Ifesinachi Godwin, was arrested along the Owerri–Onitsha Road with 43.85 kilogrammes of skunk.
The seizures come amid continued concerns over drug abuse in Nigeria.
The agency had reported that the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, estimated that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 had used psychoactive substances in the previous year.
READ ALSO: NDLEA intercepts N3.4bn loud, opioids, arrests fake police officer, mechanic-drug dealer
NDLEA sustains drug abuse campaign
Beyond the arrests and seizures, the agency noted that its commands continued with drug abuse sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The programmes were held in Oyo, Anambra, Lagos and Taraba states, while the Delta Ports Command also carried out an advocacy visit to the traditional ruler of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved in the operations. He urged them to sustain intelligence-led efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.
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