Nosa Aituamen
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a massive haul of illicit drugs worth N6.5 billion at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers, and the Apapa seaport, Lagos.
The seizures, according to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi which followed intelligence and tracking of new trafficking routes, included six million pills of opioids, comprising Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg, as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
The consignments were uncovered in containers during joint examinations by NDLEA officers and men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies. The seizures were made on May 19, 20, and 22, 2025.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested four individuals, including two British nationals and two Nigerians, for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg, through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspects, who were tracked and arrested, had attempted to receive the consignment in a car park at the airport. Investigations revealed that the British national, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra, was recruited to deliver the consignment and was promised £1,300.
The NDLEA also recovered N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand from one of the suspects, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, who confessed to arriving in Nigeria from South Africa through Ghana.
A search of his apartment led to the seizure of N3.8 million in cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four laughing gas canisters.