The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has uncovered a string of major drug trafficking operations across the country, leading to several arrests and multi-billion-naira seizures.
The Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, says operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, arrested a 55-year-old businessman after intercepting 3.3 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food cartons bound for the United Kingdom.
Investigations also led to the arrest of members of the trafficking network allegedly linked to the shipment.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers arrested a 31-year-old woman in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States.
The agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol valued at over ₦2.2 billion in a cargo shipment from India, while another consignment of tramadol hidden inside containers of black soap and destined for the UK was also seized.
At the Apapa Seaport, operatives uncovered 2,388.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud concealed in three vehicles inside a container, with an estimated street value of more than ₦7.1 billion.
In Katsina and along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, two suspects were arrested with military-grade ammunition concealed in luggage and containers.
The suspects have since been handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA raids on a warehouse in Ilushi community led to the recovery of over 1.2 tonnes of cannabis and large quantities of cannabis seeds, while additional suspects were arrested with illicit drugs in separate operations.
The NDLEA says the nationwide operations underscore its sustained crackdown on drug trafficking networks and other organised criminal activities.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen