By Opeyemi Adelakun
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 2.55 million tablets of opioids valued at more than N3 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The agency said the drugs, weighing 1,640.55kg, were recovered on Tuesday, September 22, during a joint examination of three consignments at the airport’s import shed.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the consignments contained Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg.
The drugs were imported from India and Bangladesh through Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
The latest seizure comes amid a series of large opioid interceptions by the agency at the Lagos airport this year.
In August, the NDLEA reported the seizure of 3.9 million tablets of Tramaking and Tapentadol weighing 2,787.40kg and estimated at more than N4.6 billion.
The agency had also announced the seizure of 1,825,710 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg in May, with an estimated value of N2.19 billion.
Newlywed Arrested With Cocaine
In another operation, NDLEA operatives at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, arrested a 25-year-old businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, for allegedly ingesting 72 wraps of cocaine.
Chukwulobelu was arrested at the airport’s departure hall on Thursday, September 25, while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.
The agency said he was placed under observation and subsequently excreted all 72 wraps.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was wearing a wedding ring when he was arrested and told investigators that he had previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos.
The agency said Chukwulobelu relocated to Portugal in May 2023 but returned to Nigeria for his wedding on September 13.
He allegedly told investigators that he became involved in drug trafficking in an attempt to raise money to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.
Two Togolese Arrested With Cannabis
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested two Togolese nationals, Yinusa Abdulsamad, 35, and Fatai Baba, 33, along the Iganna-Ilero Road in the Kajola Local Government Area.
The suspects were allegedly transporting 305.6kg of cannabis in two pickup vans.
The agency said the cannabis was sourced from Ghana.
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, five other suspects were arrested with 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas.
The consignment weighed 1,688.4kg and was allegedly being transported from the border into Lagos in two vehicles.
The suspects were identified as Kingsley John, 40; John Chibuike Okeke, 44; Lamidi Ismaila, 40; Babatunde Samuel, 42; and Afeesu Idowu, 47.
Cannabis Recovered In Bauchi, Farms Destroyed In Edo
In Bauchi State, operatives arrested Umar Hamidu, 35, and Abdulkarim Salihu, 45, along the Maiduguri bypass.
The NDLEA said the men were allegedly transporting 300 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 262.5kg.
The drugs were reportedly concealed inside a false compartment of a truck with registration number MUB757 YH.
In Edo State, the agency, with the assistance of soldiers, destroyed two cannabis farms at Eko Camp, Ilushi, on September 23.
The NDLEA estimated the combined yield of the farms at 1,360.23kg of cannabis.
Meanwhile, two women, Odumabo Kehinde, 36, and Obiekwe Chioma, 40, were arrested during a raid on Anifowoshe Street, Mushin, Lagos, on Saturday.
The agency said 3.4kg of cannabis was recovered from them.
In a separate operation at Ebute-Ero motor park, operatives arrested 58-year-old Ugwu Johnson.
According to the NDLEA, officers recovered 5.920kg of cannabis, 2,400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 8,400 tablets of nitrazepam and 40,000 pills of tramadol from him.
The agency also said its commands across the country continued with its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns during the week.
NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.
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