ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – In a significant operation, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a substantial consignment of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, in the Onikan area of Lagos Island.
The interception took place during the transportation of the illicit substance in an unregistered Grand Caravan vehicle by a 42-year-old suspect, Taofeek Yusuf.
The seized consignment, packaged in 324 bags, had a gross weight of 111.2 kilograms.
The arrest of Taofeek Yusuf and the seizure occurred late in the night on Friday, January 12, 2024, based on credible intelligence.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, issued an official statement confirming the operation.
This operation followed closely on the heels of another successful arrest made on Thursday, January 11.
NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos, apprehended a drug trafficking suspect named Godwin Thankgod.
Godwin, bound for Milan, Italy, was intercepted attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight with quantities of codeine-based syrup and rohypnol concealed in his luggage.
The arrest of Godwin ThankGod, a regular flyer, took place during a luggage search at the Departure Gate of Terminal 2 at the airport.
The search led to the discovery of five cartons consisting of 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 300 tablets of rohypnol.
Additionally, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO import shed on Friday, January 12, recovered 30,000 packs of tramadol 225mg, totalling 300,000 pills.
The consignment, arriving from Karachi, Pakistan, on KLM Royal Dutch Airline, was detained following a joint examination with other security agencies at the airport.
Furthermore, NDLEA operatives intercepted various quantities of tramadol and cannabis sativa concealed in the soles of sports canvas shoes destined for Oman.
Another consignment of tramadol and rohypnol hidden in spices, headed for the United Kingdom, was intercepted at two courier firms in Lagos on Tuesday, January 9, by NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI).
In Oyo state, on Thursday, January 11, operatives raided a clandestine skuchies factory operated by Oyadeji Dimeji in the Moniya area of Ibadan.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 76.6kg of cannabis sativa, 134 grams of tramadol, 93 grams of rophynol, and 50 liters of the already produced skuchies liquid mixture containing various psychoactive substances.
In Ondo state, four suspects were arrested at De Rock View Hotel in Akure North LGA on Friday, January 12, with 524.5kg of cannabis. Another suspect, Aniekeme Eyibio, 26, was apprehended at Ala Forest, Akure North LGA, where 293.5kg of the same psychoactive substance and a Dane gun were recovered.
In Edo state, a 67-year-old suspect, Franklin Eze, was arrested at Otuo on Thursday, January 11, with 454 blocks of cannabis weighing 311kg loaded in his Lexus salon car.
Abdullahi Shuaibu, 43, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, January 9, at Ayangba, Dekina LGA in Kogi state, with 43 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 22kg and three pinches of methamphetamine.
In Katsina state, a 24-year-old suspect, Danladi Adamu, was apprehended on Wednesday, January 10, with 25.5kg of cannabis sativa during a buy-and-bust operation at Kurmi Primary School in Malumfashi metropolis.
In Gombe, Sulaiman Mohammed was arrested at Lapandimtai, Kaltungo, with 47 blocks of the same substance weighing 30kg, concealed in two sacks of groundnut.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide, with sensitization lectures conducted in schools, markets, worship places, and other locations.
Some notable events included lectures at Unity High School Senior in Abeokuta, Ogun state; King George College in Badagry, Lagos; Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies in Daura, Katsina state; and Wamakko LGA in Sokoto state.
Advocacy visits were also made to the Emir of Hadejia in Jigawa state and the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of various NDLEA commands for their successful arrests and seizures in the past week.
He urged them to maintain the tempo of the offensives and strive to surpass previous records while balancing their efforts with drug demand reduction initiatives.