NDLEA intercepts N3.4bn loud, opioids, arrests fake police officer, mechanic-drug dealer

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a substantial amount of narcotics, totaling over N3.4 billion in street value, during operations in eight Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The operation resulted in the arrest of several individuals, including a 49-year-old man who falsely impersonated a senior police officer while transporting drugs across state borders.

The largest seizure was made in Lagos, where 1,200 parcels of Canadian cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion, were intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port. The consignment was initially flagged for intensive monitoring upon arrival from Montreal, Canada, based on intelligence.

In Delta State, a suspect named Innocent Ekpe, 49, was apprehended while attempting to transport 292.48kg of cannabis, known as "skunk," hidden in his vehicle. Ekpe had used a forged police identification card to evade security checks at checkpoints. Another individual, Nduka Joseph, 39, was also arrested as his accomplice.

Edo State saw the arrest of Matthew Ossai, a 45-year-old mechanic suspected of running an auto-repair workshop that served as a front for storing illicit drugs. The police recovered 48kg of Canadian cannabis and 152g of methamphetamine from the workshop.

Niger State authorities arrested three individuals, Bashir Usman, Abubakar Nuhu, and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, along with weapons and illicit substances. In Lagos, Onyeka Offor was arrested with 48,900 pills of tramadol, while Ibrahim Hudu, 43, was apprehended with an estimated 59kg of cannabis sativa.

In Gombe State, two suspects were arrested with 154,480 capsules of tramadol. Imo State saw the arrest of Ifesinachi Godwin, 25, with 43.85kg of cannabis, and a cannabis farm in Ondo State led to the destruction of 5,000kg of cannabis plants and recovery of 48kg of dried and fresh cannabis.