Emmanuel OchayiThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dealt a blow to drug cartels operating in Lagos as their successful raids have resulted in the seizure of N13 billion worth of opioids.
The NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared the details in a statement. “Our intelligence-led operations have made a huge impact,” he said. “We’re relentless in our mission to combat drug cartels in the country.”
The operations began with a raid on House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace in Amuwo Odofin, where NDLEA agents uncovered a haul. A total of 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup, measuring 4,510,000mls, were seized.
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In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives targeted a secret warehouse in the Aguda area of Surulere, operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo. They discovered a treasure trove of N12.7 million pills of tramadol.
Moreover, NDLEA has apprehended six individuals who were using their official positions to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport. These individuals are now in NDLEA custody, with N1.2 million pills of tramadol seized from them.
The arrested suspects include Oladele Sanya-Olu, Lawal Itunu Temitope, Sanamo Alla Daniel, Udeh Felix Monday, Musa Mutalib, and Unege Evans Icibor. However, three other suspects, Sarki Mubarak Salami, Abdullahi Aliyu (aka Aboki), and Monday Anwal, remain at large and are wanted by NDLEA.
In another development, NDLEA operatives at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja intercepted 3.2 kilograms of cocaine bound for Saudi Arabia. They apprehended a 50-year-old businessman, Nwokolo Anthony, during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 878 to Amsterdam, Netherlands. The suspect had ingested 86 pellets of heroin, weighing 1.330 kilograms, in a desperate attempt to smuggle drugs abroad.
Femi Babafemi commended the dedication of the NDLEA officers and men in Lagos, Osun, Edo, and FCT Commands, as they continue to expand their operations against drug cartels in the country. General Buba Marwa, the head of the institution, has charged them and their counterparts to stay focused as the agency strives to maintain the pressure on these illicit networks.
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