The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in the war against drug trafficking, intercepting opioids worth N22.7 billion at Lekki, Apapa, and Onne ports.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, operatives seized 32,607,900 pills of tramadol valued at N12,577,000,000 at the Lekki Deep Seaport. Additionally, 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N10,163,958,000 were intercepted at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state.
“The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22,740,958,000,” Babafemi stated. “These illicit consignments were seized from containers watchlisted by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday 7th and Friday 11th October 2024.”
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In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, arrested a Thailand returnee, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simon Peter, for importing 13.30 kilograms of heroin worth over N3.192 billion.
Oguejiofor, a 29-year-old Mechanical Engineering graduate, was caught attempting to smuggle the illicit drug concealed in six backpacks packed into two big suitcases.
“The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state, had left Thailand on 3rd October on Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos while his luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination,” Babafemi explained.
Upon interrogation, Oguejiofor claimed, “I was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. I was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.”
NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men involved in the arrests and seizures, praising their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
“I appreciate the officers and men of MMIA, Lekki seaport, Apapa, PHPC, Anambra, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures. Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” Marwa stated.
NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities continued across the country, targeting schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.