The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted a significant drug shipment consisting of 76.9 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis. The seizure took place at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State between Thursday, 1st June, and Friday, 2nd June, 2023. The drugs were discovered within four used vehicles contained in a shipment marked MSDU6686346 from Canada. This joint operation involved NDLEA officials and personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the interception was carried out following intelligence received by the agency, which prompted a request for a comprehensive examination of the shipment. The agency remains committed to combating drug trafficking and illicit activities.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives launched a raid on Iwe forest in Iwe community, Owan West local government area of Edo State. The objective was to locate and dismantle a large warehouse used to store skunk, a potent psychotropic substance. The warehouse contained 231 jumbo bags of skunk, with a total weight exceeding 3 tons (3,003 kilograms). The seized drugs were subsequently set ablaze to prevent their distribution.
A significant breakthrough in Kano State led to the arrest of two suspects, Ma’aruf Rabiu and Abubakar Mustapha, on Tuesday, 30th May. They were apprehended along Zaria-Kano Road while in possession of 260 blocks of cannabis weighing 139.4kg. Additionally, on Wednesday, 31st May, Auwal Ibrahim was nabbed along the Kaduna-Abuja road with 38kg of the same substance. On the same day, a 35-year-old female suspect named Bilkisu Isiya was arrested in Birnin Yero, Kaduna, with 5.6kg of cannabis.
In Borno State, the NDLEA made significant arrests in Bargu village, Shani LGA, on Saturday, 3rd June. Two suspects, Abubakar Usman (aka Alhaji Mai Kero) and Adamu Yusuf, were apprehended with 165 blocks of skunk weighing 140.7kg. These arrests were made in a challenging environment with military support, highlighting the agency’s commitment to combating drug-related activities even in high-risk areas.
The NDLEA’s operations also led to the arrest of additional suspects involved in drug-related offenses. In Bargu village, Hauwa Ibrahim, a female suspect, was caught with 6.4kg of a psychoactive substance. Meanwhile, at the Njimtilo checkpoint, Alhaji Abubakar was apprehended with 4,200 ampoules of pentazocine injection and various quantities of D5 and exol-5 tablets.
Further drug-related arrests took place along the Oyo-Ogbomoso expressway. Iroko Wasiu, a 30-year-old suspect, was arrested at a drug joint in Sabo Aba-Owolowo on Tuesday, 30th May, with 31.2kg of cannabis seized from him. On the following day, Wednesday, 31st May, two more suspects, Deji Adelabu (35) and Mutiu Salau (37), were nabbed in the Sabo area along Oyo-Ogbomoso Road and Awuro Dada area in Orire local government area of Oyo State. In total,