Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have once again made a significant seizure of illicit drugs, this time worth N4.8 billion, at a concealed warehouse located within the International Trade Fair Complex in Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos State.
Over the course of targeted raids conducted recently, the NDLEA team discovered and confiscated various quantities of illegal substances. These included approximately 1.4 million pills of tramadol 225mg, weighing 826 kilograms, as well as 3.2 million pills of codeine with a combined weight of 3,360 kilograms. Additionally, they found 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup, which contained around 284,100 bottles equating to 28,410 liters of the psychoactive substance. The street value of these seizures was estimated at N4.8 billion.
According to Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the agency, a suspect by the name of Paulinus Ojukwu, who identified himself as an automobile spare parts dealer but was the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for the sought-after drug baron, was arrested. Ojukwu is currently cooperating with ongoing investigative efforts.
This recent accomplishment in intercepting drug operations follows closely after the arrest of another prominent figure involved in the illicit drug trade, Faith Ebele Nwankwo. On August 9, Nwankwo was apprehended with a substantial quantity of tramadol pills of varying strengths, totaling around 2.7 million. These pills were discovered at her residence in Lagos and within a warehouse located in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Moreover, the NDLEA’s proactive operations also extended to counterfeit money and the apprehension of individuals involved in the distribution of controlled substances. In a separate incident, the agency intercepted suspected counterfeit $20 million notes during a search along the Abaji-Lokoja road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The fake money was found on a bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja, leading to the arrest of the 53-year-old driver, Onyebuchi Nlededin.
The agency’s efforts to curb drug-related activities continued with the arrest of individuals engaged in methamphetamine distribution, as well as raids on notorious drug dens. In a separate operation, cannabis farms in Osun were dismantled, resulting in the arrest of suspects and the recovery of additional illicit substances.
Furthermore, the NDLEA seized multiple shipments of controlled drugs, which included tramadol capsules, swinol tablets, codeine syrup bottles, and Molly tablets. These efforts extended to a follow-up operation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the owner of a seized drug consignment was apprehended.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives detained a teenager in Enugu State for possessing a significant amount of skunk, while a wanted teenage bandit was arrested in Sokoto with a quantity of skunk as well. The apprehended suspect, Aliyu Mohammed Altine, was subsequently transferred to Sokoto state police for further investigation.
