The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking with major operations resulting in multiple arrests, the seizure of vehicles, and the interception of vast quantities of illicit substances across Nigeria.
In a midnight operation on Saturday, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40ft trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa, Abuja.
The consignment, destined for Northern states, was being distributed into six vehicles, including Toyota and JAC models, when officers swooped in, arresting 42-year-old suspect Isaac Monday Desmond.
The director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement indicated that additional operations in the Federal Capital Territory led to the arrest of two suspects, Anthony Nnamdi and Abba Ali, and the recovery of 1.398 kilograms of cocaine and precursor substances.
In Lagos he said the NDLEA officers intercepted 20 wraps of cocaine concealed in face cream containers meant for export to Australia. Meanwhile, a massive codeine shipment valued at over N1.1 billion was seized during a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Rivers State.
In another significant breakthrough, NDLEA apprehended Bariu Aliu, a traditional priest of the Igunuko shrine in Lagos, three months after a raid at the shrine uncovered 2,760 kilograms of skunk. His accomplices had already been convicted.
Further successes included the arrest of 23-year-old Habibu Ya’u in Kano, where officers recovered 24.2 kilograms of cannabis and over 40,000 pills of opioids.
NDLEA’s nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also gained momentum with sensitization programs targeting schools, worship centers, and communities.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s operatives for their balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand, emphasizing their role in safeguarding the nation.