Abuja: In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a staggering 825,000 opioid pills during coordinated operations across Kano, Adamawa, and Kogi States.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that a total of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were seized from a suspect in Lokoja, Kogi.
The NDLEA spokesman said that the suspect was arrested at the Idah Waterside after crossing the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra state, to Lokoja, Kogi with the opioids on Aug. 20.
Babafemi said the agency’s operatives, in another development, in Kano State, arrested two suspects, aged 25 and 24, at Zangon Dakata Ungogo, with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline on Aug. 19.
While he said that a total of 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of another suspect, at Rangaza, Ungogo, who is now on the run.
“Also, a 35-year-old was arrested at Tashan Rami area of the state with 140 litres of codeine syrup, both on the same Tuesday.
“No fewer than 7,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from another 29-year-old suspect along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora area of the state on Aug. 23,” he said.
He added that a total of 2 289.49 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were intercepted in three interdiction operations by NDLEA operatives in Kwara.
Babafemi said that 1,232.86kg was recovered from a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked ZUR 66 XT on Aug. 20 at the Ajase-Ipo area of the state, with a suspect arrested.
“Another consignment of the same psychoactive substance weighing 328.42kg was seized from another Paul suspect, 47, in a Mercedes-Benz truck marked LSD 659 YE, on the same day, in the exact location.
“The following day, Aug. 21, NDLEA operatives intercepted another consignment of skunk weighing 728.21kg in a Mitsubishi Canter truck with registration number GAD 287 XA, at Ajase-Ipo junction, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
