The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of successful operations across the country.
The agency said the operations resulted in the interception of significant quantities of illicit drugs, including cocaine and tramadol, and the arrest of numerous suspects.
NDLEA said the drugs were discovered cleverly hidden within everyday items such as vehicle side mirrors, women’s lipsticks, and footwear.
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NDLEA, in a statement by his spokesperson Femi Babafemi on Sunday, said the major bust occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The agency said the operatives seized a shipment bound for Libreville, Gabon, containing 57,420 pills of Tramadol 225mg and 1.60kg of cocaine.
NDLEA added that the drugs were concealed inside 71 vehicle side mirrors.
The agency noted that the seizure, made on July 19, led to the arrest of a cargo agent, Ihekweme Benedict.
Additionally, the agency said a subsequent raid on his associate, Uzochukwu Chukwurah, uncovered an additional 1kg of cocaine, bringing the total cocaine seizure from the operation to 2.60kg.
More so, NDLEA said in a separate case, a businesswoman, Nwafor Roseann Nneka, was apprehended in Lagos after a consignment of cocaine and phenacetine, disguised as ladies’ lipsticks, was traced back to her.
According to the agency, the drugs were intended for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
NDLEA noted that while two cargo agents were initially arrested, Nneka was found to have purchased the lipsticks used for concealment.
The agency also said her husband and alleged accomplice, Remigus Nwafor, is currently at large.
The agency’s operations extended beyond Lagos and in Abuja, three dispatch riders, Sabo Sule, Samuel Nnamdi, and Idris Jibrin, were arrested for distributing 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a powerful cannabis strain.
Furthermore, the agency said another two individuals were caught on the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
The agency added that further arrests and drug seizures were recorded across other states.
In Lagos, operatives seized 3.3kg of Colorado from Joseph Michael in Mushin, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was arrested in Yaba with 16.5 litres of skunk.
In Benue, Hussein Yusuf was apprehended at a checkpoint with 100,000 tramadol capsules.
In Edo, 233.5kg of skunk was confiscated from a warehouse in Ekpoma, leading to the arrest of William Alabi.
At the Maiduguri Airport in Borno, Umar Aminu was arrested with 160 tramadol pills concealed inside a pair of shoes.
In Ogun, Yahaya Aminat Seyi was apprehended in Oja Odan with 7,218 pills of opioids.
In Oyo, Oladeji Saka was arrested in Ibadan in possession of 77.5kg of skunk.
In Delta, Benson Izah was nabbed in Abraka with a mixture of skunk, tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
In Bayelsa, Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma were arrested in Amassoma with 41,705 tramadol capsules.
In Kano, Bashir Gambo was found with 61kg of skunk.
Also in Osun, Kabiru Ayinde and Roqeeb Adekanmbi were arrested in Iwo with 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash.
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In addition to its enforcement activities, the NDLEA continues its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools, religious centres, and transport hubs.
The agency’s Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their dedication.
He emphasised the importance of a balanced strategy to combat drug trafficking and addiction.
