NDLEA intercepts 294,440 illicit drugs in Delta, others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 294,440 tablets of Tramadol, Diazepam, Swinol, Rohyphnol and Exol-5 along with other illicit drugs in major operations in Delta, Bauchi, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

Spokesman of the Agency Femi babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said 41 suspects were arrested in raids in Abuja and Kaduna State.

He said a suspect was arrested at Isele-Azagba Junction in Delta with 23,160 tablets of Swinol and 66,000 tablets of Rohypnol, both weighing 71.6kg while conveying the drugs from Benin to Onitsha.

He further disclosed that 38,862 red star cartridges along with 13 cartons of illicit drugs were also recovered by operatives of the Agency at a warehouse in Onitsha, while a suspect identified as Abdulrazaq Rabi’u was arrested with counterfeit $100,000 US dollars.

According to the statement, “In another arrest, a commercial vehicle from Onitsha going to Ibadan, Oyo state was intercepted at Abraka Junction, Asaba on Wednesday 2nd March with 78,000 capsules of Tramadol; 5,000 tablets of Diazepam and 97,500 tablets of Exol-5, while a suspect, Olaniyan Sunday, 42, was arrested.

“At least, a female suspect, Patricia Saduwa, 42, was arrested with 233.7kg cannabis during a raid operation in Orogun community close to Abbi town in Kwale LGA, Delta State on Friday 4th March. The raid of another house in the community the same day led to the seizure of 123.7kg cannabis while the owner is still at large.

“In Bauchi, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse at Gadar-Maiwa, Ningi Local Government Area of the state, where 542.5kg of cannabis; 6,800 tablets of Diazepam and 12,400 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered on Wednesday 2nd March.”