The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized large consignments of illicit drugs and arrested several suspects during operations across Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said operatives raided communities in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects, including an 85-year-old woman found with 179kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, in Warake.
In Ondo State, operatives destroyed 7,500kg of skunk on a three-hectare cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17. Five suspects were arrested, while 1,267kg of skunk, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh stems were recovered.
In Owo, operatives also recovered 375kg of cannabis from 25 bags found in the hideout of a 53-year-old suspect in Ameyinti.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon in Ragwam village, Katagum Local Government Area, on October 14 and recovered 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 tablets from a suspect. On the same day, operatives recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village along the Bauchi-Gombe Road.
In Kano State, two suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol. Another suspect was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, on October 14 with 100,000 Exol-5 tablets.
In Kaduna State, a raid in Kayimi village led to the arrest of a suspect with 496.5kg of cannabis. Another suspect was arrested at Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road with 49,500 tablets of tramadol.
In the FCT, a 42-year-old suspect was arrested in the Utako area on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
Babafemi added that NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.
He said the agency’s chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended officers of the Apapa, Tincan, MAKIA and Lagos commands for their professionalism and intelligence-led operations.
Marwa urged officers nationwide to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
