In a recent drug bust, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized a total of 8,852 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at Eleko Beach Road in Lekki, Lagos State. The bust was made after a 30-minute gunfight with armed men who were escorting the drugs, which were loaded in two long trucks.
According to Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, the operatives were acting on credible intelligence when they laid ambush for the traffickers along the Eleko Beach Road. At approximately 4:51 am on Thursday, May 4, 2023, two long trucks carrying the illicit consignments were flagged down. However, instead of stopping, the trucks escorted by the armed men sped off. This led to a 30-minute exchange of gunfire with the NDLEA operatives.
After being overpowered, the truck drivers and their armed escorts fled into the bush, abandoning the trucks and the drug consignments. The first truck, which was painted red, contained 149 jumbo bags, weighing 6,548kg. The second truck, painted blue, had 53 big bags, weighing 2,304kg. In total, there were 202 bags with a gross weight of 8,852 kilograms.
Babafemi further stated that the NDLEA operatives are currently on the trail of the drug lord who shipped the illicit consignment into the country.
In addition to the drug seizure in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle driven by Mukaila Idowu, conveying 88.3kg of skunk at Otedola Bridge in Ikeja. On Saturday, May 6, another suspect, Joseph Friday, was arrested at Iyana Ira, Lagos with 58.7kg of cannabis sativa concealed inside his Toyota Camry car marked FST 587FH.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives busted a mini factory where Bakare Taofeek was producing skucchies around Safari Onikolobo, Abeokuta, the State capital. Exhibits recovered from Taofeek included 4kg black currant drink mixed with cannabis, 255 litres of skucchies, 1,880 tablets of tramadol, 735 grams of cannabis, three deep freezers, two gas cylinders, and two cooking pots, among others.
Operatives in Adamawa State arrested Sahabi Mohammed, 39, with 8,800 tablets of tramadol and counterfeited N60,000 notes. In the same vein, Bala Ali Umar was arrested on Wednesday, May 3, with 2.850kg of cannabis sativa and 825 litres of formalin popularly known as ‘Suck and Die’ at Anguwar Laka, Numan LGA of the State.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Previa bus marked NER 460 XA (Bayelsa) conveying 13,000 pills of tramadol and Diazepam. The driver of the vehicle, Femi Oluwadare, was taken into custody on Friday, May 5.
Similarly, operatives in Kogi State arrested Ahmed Rafi’u, 34, with 84 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 43.200kg. In Anambra State, 381.1kg of the same substance was recovered from three suspects: Innocent Saturday, Sunday Asuquo, and Akpan Asukuma; who were travelling in a Sienna bus.
The NDLEA is making significant efforts in curbing the influx of illegal drugs into the country