The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than ₦3.4 billion, including over 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000 kilograms of cannabis, in a series of coordinated operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency also arrested a 49-year-old fake police officer, identified as Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly used a forged Deputy Superintendent of Police identity card to evade security checkpoints while transporting drugs in Delta State. His alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested during the operation.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said one of the biggest breakthroughs came at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, where operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed inside a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada. The drugs, weighing 603.75kg, were hidden in 31 jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles.
In Delta State, investigators said Ekpe had allegedly paraded himself as “Godwin Emeka,” a serving police officer, while transporting illicit consignments across state lines. He was arrested along the Benin–Onitsha Expressway with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Another major seizure occurred along the Abaji–Abuja Highway, where NDLEA officers recovered more than 1.1 million tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks. Two suspects, Aminu Isyaku and Jamilu Habibu, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
In Edo State, operatives raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road in Benin City, arresting Matthew Ossai, who allegedly used the facility as a storage point for illicit drugs. Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud and quantities of methamphetamine from the premises.
Additional operations in Lagos led to the arrest of Onyeka Ofor with 48,900 tramadol pills at his Surulere residence, while another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was apprehended after 59kg of cannabis was intercepted at a logistics company. NDLEA also recovered 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas from another suspect in Apongbo.
In Gombe State, two suspects were arrested with 154,480 tramadol capsules, while separate operations in Niger State led to the arrest of three young men found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a pistol and ammunition.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the officers involved in the nationwide operations, describing the seizures as a significant blow to drug trafficking networks operating across Nigeria.
The agency said investigations are ongoing, while the arrested suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the NDLEA Act.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
