Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted 380 rounds of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State and arrested a couple connected to the possession of more than 1.2 tonnes of cannabis.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He said NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway at Jere on May 24 apprehended a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was allegedly transporting 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade ammunition to Katsina State.
Babafemi said the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple: Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, along with another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, following the seizure of 100 jumbo bags of skunk with a gross weight of 1,246 kilograms from their home at Gonin Gora area of Kaduna on Sunday, May 24,” he said.
In another operation in the state, Babafemi said officers intercepted Sunusi Musa along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway with the ammunition while he was allegedly heading to Katsina State.
“In another interdiction operation in the state, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway by Jere, same day, intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, with 380 rounds of military-grade ammunition, RLA 7.62mm, going to Katsina state.”
The suspect and the exhibit have since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further action.
The agency also recorded the seizure of illicit drug consignments concealed inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.
Babafemi explained that the shipment contained three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, which were discovered at a courier company in Lagos on May 26.
“NDLEA have uncovered consignments of high potency illicit drugs concealed in water purifier machines shipped to Lagos from the Netherlands.
“The illicit drug consignments, mainly: ketamine weighing 3kilograms and 199 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy) pills, which were carefully hidden in the water purifier machines, were discovered and seized at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday,” he said.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, on May 27, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk. Following the operation, a 46-year-old suspect, Godwin Zakka, was arrested at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, in Enugu State, officers on patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State on May 28. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam. One suspect, James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the discovery.
The agency noted that its commands and formations across the country continued their anti-drug abuse campaigns through lectures and awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, communities, and places of worship.
Commending officers involved in the operations, Buba Marwa praised personnel of the Kaduna, Niger, and Enugu commands, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, for the successful arrests and seizures.
Marwa also urged officers nationwide to remain committed to drug supply reduction efforts while sustaining public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging drug abuse.
