Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, containing 1,050,000 bottles worth over N7.35 billion in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the seizure was made from six containers on Saturday, marking the third such interception in the past four weeks. The success was attributed to credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their point of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA. This unit worked in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports command of the agency and other security agencies, including the Customs Service, to conduct a 100 percent joint examination of the targeted containers.
At the end of the examination, 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing 157,500 kilogrammes, were recovered.
In another operation, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, arrested two passengers traveling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight. The suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, tested positive for ingestion of illicit substances. Daniel excreted 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022 kilogrammes, while Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps weighing 662 grammes.
Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel had stolen the identity of his late uncle to obtain a Schengen visa for free access to Europe. His real name was Oladapo Olanrewaju.
Additionally, 40.32 kilogrammes of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, were recovered from a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road. The driver abandoned the vehicle upon noticing NDLEA operatives were on his trail.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison,” arresting 60 suspects (25 males and 35 females) at an apartment in Sun City estate. The raid, prompted by credible intelligence, led to the arrest of the organizer, Stanley Ikechukwu. Six suspects were found with ecstasy and cannabis.
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, directed the unconditional release of 20 suspects who tested negative for drugs. Thirty-three others who tested positive were released on bail and required to report to the FCT Command for treatment and counseling.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects—Endurance Okon, Joseph Michael, Ovoco Bright, and Goday Abanum—in the deep forest of Ugun, Igueben local government area, during a raid that destroyed 18,632.22 kilogrammes of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland.
The NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities across the country in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities over the past week.
Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Port Harcourt Ports, Lagos, and Edo Commands for their arrests, seizures, and dedication, Brig. Gen. Marwa warned drug cartels that their trafficking methods would always be uncovered and thwarted by the agency’s vigilant workforce in collaboration with other stakeholders. He encouraged the officers to maintain their balanced approach to drug control efforts.
