Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted drugs valued at N22.7 billion in separate operations at Lagos and Rivers seaports.
The seizures included over 32 million tramadol pills at Lekki Deep Seaport and 1.4 million bottles of codeine syrup at Apapa and Port Harcourt ports, in a major blow to transnational drug cartels.
Femi Babafemi, spokesman for the agency, said, “The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to twenty-two billion, seven hundred and forty million, nine hundred and fifty-eight thousand naira (N22,740,958,000).”
He explained that the illicit consignments were seized from containers watch-listed by the NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with personnel from Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between 7th Monday and 11th Friday October 2024.
Babafemi added, “Following a fresh wave of interdiction operations targeting transnational drug cartels, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, also arrested a Thailand returnee, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, for importing 13.30 kilograms of heroin worth over N3.192 billion.
“Oguejiofor was arrested on Monday, 7th October 2024, while attempting to smuggle the illicit drug out of the airport, concealed in six backpacks and packed into two large suitcases.
“The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, had left Thailand on 3rd October on a Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos. His luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination.
“After arriving in Lagos on 5th October, he contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he could pick it up as rush baggage in an attempt to bypass security checks. However, NDLEA officers intercepted him at the point of exit.
“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each, with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn into all six backpacks.
“The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg. In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels.
“He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.”
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, 12th October, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets of tramadol (200mg) at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.
In Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West Local Government Area, where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050kg were recovered. A suspect, Monday Akele, 38, was arrested on Friday, 11th October, in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East Local Government Area, where 110kg of the same substance was seized.
Meanwhile, NDLEA’s Commands and formations across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and communities. Notable activities include WADA enlightenment lectures to students and staff of Sacred Heart Girls International Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Bida, Niger State; and Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja, among others.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men involved in these operations for their dedication, adding that their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction is greatly appreciated.
