The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2.1 billion in street value.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that the consignments were seized by NDLEA operatives at Onne port, Rivers, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
According to him, on Friday, May 31, at the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers, with the cooperation of other security agencies, intercepted a large consignment of Loud.
He said the drugs were in eight suitcases containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance. Mr Babafemi added that they were coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The NDLEA spokesman said the consignment, estimated to be worth N960 billion, was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Francis. During a search operation, airport personnel from NDLEA, customs, and others discovered it at the airport’s E-arrival hall.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada, to transport the drug to Nigeria.
“During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of N6 million,” he said.
In another development at the Onne Port in Rivers, NDLEA operatives intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India en route to the C to C bonded terminal in Enugu on Monday, May 27.
According to Mr Babafemi, during a joint examination of the container by personnel of NDLEA, customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine were discovered.
He said the cartons, which collectively weighed 26,250kg, contained 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000 in street value.
“Also, in Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway,” he said.
Mr Babafemi said the suspect was arrested on Friday, May 31, while travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa state.
Also, Mr Babafemi said operatives in Nasarawa State, on Wednesday, May 29, nabbed a 70-year-old man, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg of marijuana in Lafia, the state capital.
The NDLEA spokesman said two suspects, Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest in Ara-Ekiti, Ekiti state.
He said the operatives recovered 426 kilogrammes of marijuana already processed and packed in big sacks.
Mr Babafemi added that the NDLEA operatives also destroyed over 4,000kg of marijuana on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday, May 30.
According to him, operatives of the agency also seized 76 blocks of marijuana, weighing 42kg, from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, in Katsina State.
He said the suspect was arrested on the Zaria–Malumfashi road on Wednesday, May 29.
