• Seizes N3.6b drugs in Lagos, other states

A 48-year-old Lagos businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, who allegedly sold his assets to raise N23 million for a cocaine deal, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while attempting to travel to New Delhi, India.

Onyebuchi, who deals in marbles, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to India.

A search of his check-in bag revealed 1.550 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside the factory-fitted walls and railings of the luggage.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect confessed that he had liquidated his marble business and other assets to raise the N23 million he paid for the consignment, hoping to sell the cocaine in India for about N100 million.

The arrest was among several operations conducted by the agency across Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, opioids and other controlled substances.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in a residential compound at Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

The consignment, seized between August 7 and 8, was valued at more than N2.6 billion.

The agency also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at his residence in Ipaja, Lagos.

A raid on the property yielded 324 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million, as well as a Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corolla.

In Kwara, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in a truck.

Two other suspects, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State.

NDLEA officers recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol from their Toyota Sienna.

In Delta State, operatives recovered 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol from two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43 and Samuel Godbless, 18.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, while a suspect, Kasum Sherif was arrested.

Kano also recorded major seizures, with six suspects arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road and large consignments of opioids recovered, including 728,958 pills of tramadol and Rohypnol, 360 grammes of cocaine, 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilogrammes of Loud.

The agency also recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilogrammes in Kumbotso Local Government Area and arrested two suspects.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest. A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the operation.

Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested at a drug joint in Benin City with 25.857 kilogrammes of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

Beyond arrests and seizures, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools and communities, including lectures at Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended officers and men of the affected commands for the operations, urging personnel across the country to sustain the balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction.