In a swift operation that showed the relentless fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized a staggering haul of illegal substances at Onne Port in Rivers State and Tincan Island Port in Lagos State. The combined value of the confiscated drugs, amounting to an astonishing N16.68 billion, includes 26,250,000 pills of tramadol and 508,400 bottles of codeine syrup, among other dangerous substances.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, announced the successful raids, which were carried out in separate operations that reveal the extensive network of drug trafficking that continues to threaten public health and safety. The operation, which took place between October 12 and October 25, not only highlights the scale of the illicit trade but also the agency’s determination to clamp down on drug-related crimes.
Among the notable drugs seized were 10 million tablets of Toradol Benzhexol and 28 plastic drums containing methamphetamine, weighing a total of 700kg. In a particularly unusual discovery, operatives found 2,118 pills of tramadol ingeniously concealed within the soles of 13 pairs of shoes, showcasing the lengths to which traffickers will go to evade detection.
The drugs were intercepted at the export shed of the Lagos airport on October 12, destined for Cyprus. Following the discovery, a follow-up operation in Enugu State on October 24 led to the arrest of the alleged sender, Okenwa Uchenna, where an additional 380 tablets were recovered. Alongside these drugs, NDLEA operatives seized a cash sum of N968,880 and a Toyota Avalon car linked to Uchenna.
The NDLEA’s efforts did not stop at the ports. In a separate operation in Lagos, a 40-year-old suspect named Tsolaye Eburajolo was apprehended in the Ago Palace area for his involvement in a cannabis seizure. Notably, a bribe of N10 million allegedly offered to NDLEA officers for the suspect’s release has been retained as evidence for prosecution, highlighting the persistent corruption that undermines the agency’s work.
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On October 25, NDLEA operatives made a significant bust at the Igbo-Igunuko shrine located at Alfa Beach in Ajah, where they recovered jumbo bags of Ghanaian Loud cannabis, weighing a massive 2,760kg. Two suspects, Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun, were arrested during this operation. Another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin, was captured with 770kg of the same substance along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, revealing the extensive distribution network of cannabis in the region.
In a concerning find, 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, Rohypnol, and diazepam, along with 64 bottles of codeine syrup, were recovered from underground storage at the residence of suspect Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. The suspect had meticulously constructed a hidden storage space in his room, covering it with a padlocked iron slate and concealing it under a rug with his mattress on top, illustrating the lengths to which traffickers will go to avoid detection.
