NDLEA seizes six vehicles, trailer loaded with skunk in FCT

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 40ft trailer loaded with skunk (a strain of cannabis) weighing 2,217.6 kilograms while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for onward distribution to some northern states.

According to a statement signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the intelligence-led operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 11, 2025.

Babafemi said the operatives also seized the trailer and the six vehicles, which he identified as a Toyota van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car, and a Vento Passat car.

A 42-year-old, Isaac Monday Desmond, was arrested during the operation.

In another raid in the FCT, two suspects, Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA operatives at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg of cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.

Babafemi also revealed that no fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330 grams were recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) in NDLEA.

He said the cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.

He added that a total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup, worth more than N1,190,168,200.00 in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the agency following processed intelligence.

Babafemi further revealed that the illicit consignments were discovered during a joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs, and other security agencies on Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.

“In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha Beach Ajah Lekki, where 2,760kg of skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him. Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.

“A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road, Kano, on Thursday, January 9, where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg and 40,800 pills of opioids, including tramadol, from him,” he added.