Abuja: In a sweeping crackdown against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a disturbing smuggling method—opioids ingeniously concealed within footwear at Maiduguri’s Muhammadu Buhari International Airport – as the operation led to the arrest of nine suspects and forms part of a broader nationwide offensive targeting illicit substances and trafficking networks.
A statement by Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA on Sunday in Abuja said that a suspect who was a passenger, Umar Aminu, 38 years old, was arrested.
Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives arrested the suspect on Friday, August 1, with the illicit consignment.
He said the NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Friday also raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Aminat Yahaya 7, with 218 pills of opioids, mainly tramadol.
Babafemi said that their counterparts in Oyo state nabbed Oladeji Saka, 54, with 77.5 kg of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan.
Also, another suspect, Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka in Delta with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol and 14.4litres of codeine.
“In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday, August 1, arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma.
“A total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids, were recovered from their shop and residence.
“A suspect, Bashir Gambo, 30, was also nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano state, with 61kg of skunk,” he said.
In another development, two suspects, Kabiru Ayinde, 40, and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were arrested on Monday, July 28, at the Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state.
Babafemi said that a 90kg skunk, 36.3grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and N228,200 cash exhibit were recovered from them.
Babafemi said the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the officers and men of the MBIAM, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Kano and Osun Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity.