The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted major drug trafficking networks across Nigeria, leading to the arrest of key suspects and the seizure of significant quantities of illicit substances.
A viral video confrontation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport exposed the attempted smuggling of tramadol concealed in dietary supplements.
NDLEA arrested Okosun Paul Punitt, the owner, confirming the illicit substance to be 50 pills of tramadol 225mg.
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA intercepted containers carrying 1,274 parcels of cocaine and colorado, weighing 884.09 kilograms.
The operation also uncovered firearms, ammunition, and military effects. A suspect, Akara Chibugo, linked to one of the containers, was apprehended.
In Kano, NDLEA seized a staggering 5,653,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and exol-5 from three suspects.
The arrests included Nura Abdullahi, Tahir Muhammad Mukhtar, and Yusuf Umar, with significant quantities of tramadol recovered.
NDLEA officers arrested Ali Abubakar and Murtala Sani in Ojodu Berger with 110kg of cannabis sativa.
Additionally, a hideout in Akerele, Surulere, yielded 69kg of the same substance, leading to the pursuit of a fleeing suspect.
The agency’s crackdown extended to opioid trafficking, with 2,800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup seized in Abuja.
NDLEA also apprehended suspects like Ike Emmanuel in Taraba State and Joseph Isiguzoro, Emmanuel Eugene, and Malachi Ndu in Abia State, recovering a total of 100,510 opioid pills.
