Massive Drug Haul Worth N6.5 Billion Intercepted by NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs at key Nigerian ports and airports, disrupting drug trafficking activities across the country.
Over six million opioid pills, including tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg, and carisoprodol 225mg, alongside 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, were seized at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and Apapa seaport, Lagos.
The total street value of these drugs is estimated at Six Billion Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Naira (N6.524 billion).
“The seizures at the Apapa and Onne ports followed intelligence and tracking of new trafficking routes to ship illicit substances into Nigeria by drug cartels,” said Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA.
Containers were watch-listed for “100 percent examination,” leading to the discovery of the consignments during joint operations between NDLEA, Nigeria Customs, and other security agencies between May 19th and 22nd.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects — two British nationals and two Nigerians — attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud cannabis weighing over 51 kilograms into Nigeria.
The British suspect, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra, was caught following intelligence tracking and confessed he was recruited and promised 1,300 British Pounds for delivering the drugs. His accomplices were also detained, and a follow-up raid at their Lekki apartment uncovered cash totaling over three million Naira, electronic devices, and canisters of nitrous oxide.
Over 75,000 kilograms of skunk cannabis were destroyed on farms in Cross River and Edo States between May 22nd and 24th. In Nasarawa State, suspects carrying thousands of kilograms of skunk concealed under wood in lorries were arrested.
Multiple arrests and drug seizures were reported in Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, and Niger states, including tramadol, diazepam, and compressed cannabis. In Lagos, NDLEA raided locations in Lekki, seizing cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, rohypnol, codeine, cannabis, and nitrous oxide.
Babafemi highlighted ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy efforts by NDLEA commands across Nigeria, including sensitization lectures delivered to secondary schools in Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Adamawa, and Kano States, as well as community visits in Lagos.
“We commend the officers and men of PHPC, MMIA, Apapa, Nasarawa, Cross River, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, and Bauchi Commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week,” said Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA. “Their efforts ensure a fair balance between reducing drug supply and demand across the country.”
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