NDLEA Arrests 75-year-old man, Intercepts Illicit Drugs in Multi-state Crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives intercepted huge quantities of illicit drugs, while arresting several suspects in coordinated operations across multiple states, as part of a nationwide crackdown.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said operatives  intercepted large consignments of opioids concealed in a truck carrying building materials from Anambra to Taraba state.

The truck was intercepted at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo on June 6 following intelligence reports.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 rohypnol tablets and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed beneath the cargo.

One Buhari Abdullahi, a 22-year-old suspect, was subsequently arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Ebonyi state, NDLEA said its operatives arrested a 75-year-old grandfather identified as Okebe Samuel at Okposi, and recovered 300 grammes of skunk from him.

The agency said the suspect sold the substance in retail sachets to young people in the community.

NDLEA also reported the arrest of  Chioma Okeke, a 32-year-old woman, during a raid on a drug enclave in Umulolo, Orlu, Imo state, where officers recovered eight kilogrammes of skunk.

It added that the agency arrested four suspected traffickers, including three women, during operations at identified drug hotspots in Benin City, Edo state, on June 2.

The suspects were identified as Chioma Igba, 24; Precious Ozomah, 22; Anita Abraham, 21; and Henry Okey, 43.

According to the agency, various quantities of skunk, loud, methamphetamine, lolorado and swinol were recovered from the suspects.

In Kano state, NDLEA operatives arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan at Kafi area of Madobi on June 4 with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilogrammes.

The agency also said operatives in Gombe arrested 28-year-old Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of the state on June 1 with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools across the country, including institutions in Oyo, Lagos, Anambra and Kano states.

Buba Marwa, chairman and chief executive officer of NDLEA, commended officers involved in the operations and reiterated the agency’s commitment to disrupting drug supply networks nationwide.

Marwa said the agency would continue to target drug traffickers regardless of age, gender or methods used to conceal illicit substances.