NDLEA Intercepts N10bn Cocaine, Canadian Loud, Opioids at Lagos Ports, Arrests Alleged Drug Kingpins

 NDLEA Intercepts N10bn Cocaine, Canadian Loud, Opioids at Lagos Ports, Arrests Alleged Drug Kingpins

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over N10 billion at Lagos airport and seaports, while arresting suspected drug traffickers linked to international syndicates attempting to smuggle cocaine, Canadian Loud and opioids to the United Kingdom. The agency also recovered 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in palm oil containers in Kaduna and Katsina states.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of major anti-narcotics operations across the country, intercepting cocaine, Canadian Loud, Tapentadol, tramadol and other illicit substances valued at over N10 billion while arresting several suspected traffickers.

Among those arrested is 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, who was allegedly behind an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Chinedu was arrested on Thursday, July 23, after operatives intercepted the cocaine shipment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a day earlier.

Investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, before another suspect, Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment, was apprehended.

According to the agency, Okakpu's arrest exposed Chinedu as the alleged kingpin of the syndicate, leading to his eventual arrest while attempting to send another cocaine shipment to the UK.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 21, following the seizure of 2.80 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, imported from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.

The agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over N2.2 billion, during a joint examination of cargo from India transported aboard an Air Maroc flight on Friday, July 24. Babafemi said the operation was intelligence-driven.

Operatives also uncovered a consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap intended for export to the United Kingdom. The shipment was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on Wednesday, July 22.

At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers discovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilograms, hidden inside three vehicles loaded in a container. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of over N7.1 billion.

Outside Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. He was allegedly found with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

Similarly, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers reportedly discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of palm oil.

The agency said both suspects and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Edo State, a raid on a warehouse at Ilushi Community in Esan South-East Local Government Area on July 19 resulted in the seizure of 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds. Two suspects, Ojore Onweze, 45, and George Agwumede, 30, were separately arrested with 60 kilograms and 13 kilograms of skunk respectively.

Beyond enforcement, NDLEA said its Commands nationwide sustained the agency's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools and communities, including Government Day Secondary School, Sabon Wuse in Niger State; Government Girls Secondary School, Shekara in Kano State; and Otto Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) as well as the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina Commands for the successful operations.

He urged officers across the country to sustain the agency's balanced approach of aggressive drug supply reduction alongside preventive drug abuse advocacy.