NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Religious Books, Busts Drug Traffickers Across Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made several significant drug seizures and arrests throughout Nigeria, demonstrating the agency’s increased efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.

In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi detailed several operations, including the interception of a cocaine shipment destined for Saudi Arabia.

The drugs, weighing 500 grammes, were hidden among the pages of 20 sets of religious books discovered on Tuesday at a courier company in Lagos.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) while searching for export cargo bound for Saudi Arabia.

On the same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels weighing 2.8 kilogrammes of Loud, a potent cannabis strain. The shipment was concealed in a carton originating in the United States of America.

On April 13th, the NDLEA apprehended Muhammad Mohammed, a 22-year-old from Kano, on the Bichi-Kano road. Mohammed, suspected of supplying illegal substances to bandits, was discovered with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection taped to his thigh and groin.

Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was arrested in Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a cannabis strain weighing 30 kilogrammes, in the Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa.

A raid on a house in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, resulted in a significant haul of illicit drugs. On Wednesday, NDLEA agents seized 557.2 kilogrammes of skunk, 5.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, and 29.8 grams of heroin.

Four suspects, Sarimiye Suwa, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46, were arrested on the scene.

In Lagos, a delivery van carrying 1,100 kilogrammes of skunk was stopped in the Surulere neighbourhood. Ismail Abdullahi, the driver, was taken into custody on Thursday.

On Friday, NDLEA operatives raided the hideout of Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, seizing 31,950 tramadol 225mg and diazepam pills.

Similarly, a vehicle transporting charcoal from the Benin Republic was stopped on Baguio Road in Kebbi. A search revealed 97 kilogrammes of skunk concealed within charcoal sacks.

Three people, Abubakar Ibrahim, 50, Mustapha Aliyu, 32, and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In other operations, Okafor Marcel, 48, was arrested with 11.5 kilogrammes of skunk in Abatete, Anambra state.

Ajala Mercy, 27, of Osogbo, Osun state, was arrested with 43 litres of sushi, a dangerous mixture of black currant, cannabis, and opioids, in her room at Dada estate.

Furthermore, NDLEA personnel destroyed 3,717.8625 kilogrammes of cannabis on 1.487145 hectares of land after raiding two cannabis farms in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state. An additional 136.5 kilogrammes of processed cannabis were recovered.

Basorun Kayode, 40, a suspect wanted for two years, was arrested at Lagos’ Tincan seaport in connection with the seizure of 107 kilogrammes of Loud imported from Canada in 2023. Another suspect, Dauda Yakubu, who distributes illegal drugs in the seaport community, was also apprehended.

According to Babafemi, the NDLEA’s social advocacy activities for the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) continue across the nation.

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, praised the officers and men involved in the operations for their commitment to both drug supply and demand reduction efforts.