NDLEA foils attempt to smuggle opioids into Nigeria – Official

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled the attempt of a suspected cross-border trafficker to smuggle 50,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg from Ghana to Lagos.

This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said the interception took place during another intelligence-led operation with officers from an NDLEA task force carrying out the operation on Saturday.

He said the pills were hidden in the body compartments of a GUO Transport Company Toyota Hummer Bus driven by the suspect.

He also said the vehicle was intercepted at the Ijanikin area of ​​the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.

In another development, no less than 997kg of cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of Edo State last week.

Mr Babafemi said 680kg of cannabis and a Sienna van marked FST-320 AE were seized on a forest trail to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA of the state.

He said 180.5kg of the same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu Forest, Ovia South West LGA area of ​​the state.

He added that 136.5kg of the same substance was evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA in Edo on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a suspect with 88.3kg of cannabis was on Wednesday apprehended by NDLEA operatives patrolling the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Mr Babafemi said personnel of Kano Command of the agency on Friday arrested a 30-year-old man at Gadar Tamburawa road, Kano-Zaria, where they recovered 65,730 capsules of Tramadol from him.

He also said that NDLEA operatives in Kwara arrested a suspect with 120.8kg of cannabis and several liters of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA.

Mr Babafemi said a suspected 42-year-old drug trafficker was on Thursday, November 14, nabbed with 75kg of cannabis in Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo State.

“A total of 563.74kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from a 60-year-old suspect, following his arrest in Iyalode, Iyana Church area of ​​Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” he said

Mr Babafemi quoted the Chairman of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of the Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano and Edo Commands of the organization for the arrests and seizures.

Mr Marwa stated that the operational successes of the agency and those of their compatriots across the country were highly appreciated.

(NAN)