Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lekki-based businessman and proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer in connection with the shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, from America to Nigeria.

The 43-year-old businessman was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki area of Lagos, where he does his illicit drug business on Monday, March 24, while he was expecting to receive his latest drug consignment.

His arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived in Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on March 12 by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.

After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search, during which 94 grammes of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered. This brings the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilogrammes.

In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017.

An attempt by another businessman, Omoruyi Terry, to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grammes to Italy has also been thwarted by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

Omoruyi was intercepted at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight.

Investigation reveals the suspect is an Italy-based frequent traveler and logistics agent.

In Katsina, four suspects: Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal, were arrested on Friday, March 28, during an intelligence led raid operation at Godai village in Daura LGA where 684 blocks of compressed skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 423kg and 86,000 pills of diazepam were recovered from them.

The three male suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers, while Baraka, the female suspect, was apprehended with the heaps of skunk in her house.

About 13,198 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo forests across parts of the state between Monday and Friday, March 24 and 28, by NDLEA operatives who also evacuated 158kg of the same substance for possible prosecution.

The forests where no fewer than four cannabis plantations were discovered and destroyed include Uhen forest, Ovia North East LGA; Sobe, Owan West LGA; and Amahor forest in Igueben LGA.

In Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Friday, March 28, intercepted a black Toyota Corolla car marked SLM 137 SV and arrested the two occupants in possession of 179 blocks of compressed skunk with a total weight of 77.6kg concealed in false bottom of the vehicle.

The two suspects are Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Star Anumie.

In another operation, 50kg skunk was on Saturday, March 29, recovered from the home of a suspect, Isa Iliya, who is currently at large, in Wawa village, Borgu council area of the state.

While 108.5kg of skunk was recovered from lockup shops at Aria New Market in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, March 25, 25kg of same substance was seized from a suspect, Abdulrazak Saka, at Kilako Area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, March 24.

Another suspect, Suli Saheed, 50, was nabbed with 2.5 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grammes of Colorado, at Olomi Academy area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Edo, Kwara, Niger, Enugu, Oyo and Katsina Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated.

He extended Eid-el-fitr greetings to them, their families, other stakeholders and Nigerians at large.