NDLEA seizes 7.7kg of illicit substances hidden in machine cylinders, auto parts
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking organisations, dismantling at least six syndicates and arresting nine kingpins in a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven raids across multiple states.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday, that the sweeping crackdown, carried out between 17 and 22 November, led to the seizure of tonnes of illicit substances concealed in machine cylinders, automobile parts, flight boarding passes, drug-laced confectioneries and warehouses.
Babafemi said one of the major operations was conducted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where officers intercepted pressure machine cylinders shipped from South Africa containing 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of Loud, 16g of cocaine, 200g of phenacetin, 200g of methcathinone, and 100g of caffeine.
He added that a follow-up sting in Onitsha, Anambra state, led to the arrest of electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, 30, and South Africa returnee Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, 51.
“At the airport export terminal, officers also uncovered 48 cocaine pellets and a 2.30kg block hidden inside a brake servo auto part headed for Gabon,” he said.
“This led to the arrest of freight agent Ameh Solomon and auto-parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.”
In Kogi state, Babafemi said officials intercepted a trailer ferrying 4,700kg of skunk in Kabba, noting that three escorts on the truck were arrested, while the alleged kingpin, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu, was later tracked down in Jos, Plateau state.
He said a raid on a warehouse in Ugep, Cross River, led to the arrest of a couple — Onun Okoi Okpotum and Itam Okoi Okpotum — and the recovery of 4,706kg of skunk packed in 362 jumbo bags.
He added that the agency also broke up an online drug-edibles ring in Edo state, arresting two women — Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Emem Oghosa, 25 — for producing and selling drug-laced brownies. Officers recovered brownies, Colorado, and 76g of skunk. In Akoko Edo LGA, Shedrack Aminu was arrested with 59kg of skunk.
“A checkpoint operation along the Enugu–Onitsha highway produced another major haul: 10.1kg of skunk, 105,600 tramadol pills, 700 pentazocine ampoules, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition, all in the possession of 24-year-old Chinoso Emmanuel Monday,” he said.
In Kebbi state, operatives evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse in Dole-Kaina. A 23-year-old courier, Umar Adamu, was also arrested with 12,548 opioid pills hidden in paracetamol containers and allegedly destined for a Boko Haram enclave in Borno.
More arrests followed on major transit corridors, including the Abuja expressway, Niger State, and Lekki, Lagos, where NDLEA seized 71kg of Canadian Loud and 2.6kg of Colorado concealed in branded tins and flight boarding cards.
Babafemi said Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officers and warned that drug cartels typically become more active ahead of the festive season.
“The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard,” Marwa said.
