Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a significant quantity of opioids valued at more than ₦3.4 billion in Lagos State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 3.5 million opioid pills and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, plus 20kg of Canadian Loud, a powerful cannabis strain, which was concealed in food containers, as stated by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, in a statement released on Sunday.
The bulk of the seizure took place on Tuesday, April 29, during a joint examination at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. Authorities discovered two million pills of Tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup hidden inside a container under surveillance.
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The statement mentions, “On the same day in Lagos, NDLEA agents seized 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid from a suspect named Olarenwaju Wahab, in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo. Investigations led back to Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, which is the residence of Obinna Kenneth, who is currently evading capture.
“To further strengthen the fight against drug smuggling, NDLEA operatives stationed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) confiscated 42 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 20kg. “The cannabis was skillfully hidden in chocolate tins, cans of milo beverage, and kidney bean packages within cargo arriving on a British Airways flight from Canada.
“From Wednesday, April 30, to Saturday, May 3, at least three individuals were arrested in relation to the airport seizure, including Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, who is believed to have been the recipient of the shipment.”
