Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids hidden in cartons bound for the United Kingdom and Australia, while also destroying 65,000 kilograms of skunk in nationwide anti-drug operations.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, officers intercepted the illicit consignments at a courier company in Lagos during the inspection of shipments destined for the UK and Australia.
“A total of 170 grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and buried in the walls of a carton of clothes heading to Australia were recovered,” the statement said.
Babafemi added that another consignment bound for the United Kingdom contained “200 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection” hidden inside a carton.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area, destroying 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland and recovering an additional 22.9kg of the substance.
The agency said officers arrested a 52-year-old suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter, during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku.
Another operation at Orogun village in Ughelli North LGA led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of skunk spread across 15 hectares of farmland. Officers also recovered 55.4kg of the substance and arrested a suspect identified as Godwin Vincent Osadera, 30.
“This brings the total weight of skunk destroyed by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers in the two operations to 65,000 kilograms,” the statement noted.
In Kaduna State, operatives recovered 361kg of skunk during a raid in the Dan Magaji area of Zaria and arrested 42-year-old Husaini Suleiman.
The agency also intercepted a cache of military-grade ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Babafemi said officers discovered “1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed in fresh white cassava granules locally known as garri” in the possession of 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan.
He added that authorities transferred the suspect and the recovered ammunition to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested a businessman, Ogadi Peter, accused of producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for social events.
The 29-year-old suspect was apprehended at his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja after intelligence reports linked him to the activity.
“800 grams of skunk and 2.70kg drug-laced cookies” were recovered from him, the statement added.
In Ogun State, officers recovered 181kg of skunk from a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani during a raid in the Ogere area.
Similarly, in Taraba State, officers arrested 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa along the Zaki-Biam road in Wukari LGA with “105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.”
Two suspects — Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25 — were also arrested in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies at Challenge II area of Saki town.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk during raids on farms in Ago forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The agency also recorded seizures in Kano State, where officers intercepted a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2kg of tramaking 225mg pills at Kofar Ruwa motor park.
Another suspect, Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested in the Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5kg of skunk.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse campaign continued in schools across Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti and Kano states.
While commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised personnel for balancing enforcement with preventive advocacy.
Marwa “commended the officers and men of DOGI, Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, FCT and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week,” Babafemi stated.
He also applauded “their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”