Introduction: In a significant operation, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and “Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, worth over N2.1 billion in street value. These seizures occurred at the Port Harcourt seaports (Onne) and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Let’s delve into the details of these drug interceptions and their implications.
The Cannabis and Codeine Seizures
1. The “Loud” Cannabis Shipment
At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, discovered a large consignment of “Loud.” Packed in eight suitcases, this synthetic strain of cannabis weighed 164.5 kilograms. The psychoactive substance originated from Canada and arrived via a KLM flight through Amsterdam, Netherlands. The estimated street value of this shipment is N960 million.
2. The Codeine-Based Syrup at Port Harcourt Ports
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India. The container was en route to a C-to-C bonded terminal in Enugu. Inside, they found 1,750 cartons of codeine, weighing 26,250 kilograms. These cartons contained a total of 175,000 bottles of the opioid, valued at over N1.2 billion on the street.
Other Drug Seizures
1. Methamphetamine Arrest in Abuja
A 25-year-old lady named Blessing Thomas was arrested with 1 kilogram of methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives while traveling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa state.
2. Cannabis Seizure in Nasarawa State
Operatives in Nasarawa state apprehended a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2 kilograms of cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.
3. Cannabis Sativa Bust in Ekiti State
Two suspects, Suleiman Kazeem (35) and Sunday Gbenga (20), were arrested during a raid in Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The operatives recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in large sacks. Additionally, they destroyed over 4,000 kilograms of the same substance on a 1.66-hectare farmland.
4. Nigerien National Caught with Cannabis in Katsina State
Suleman Audu (29), a Nigerien national, was arrested by NDLEA officers along the Zaria-Malumfashi road. They seized 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42 kilograms from him.
These recent drug seizures underscore the agency’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking and abuse. The NDLEA continues to work tirelessly to protect communities from the harmful effects of illicit substances.
