The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos”, shipped from the United Kingdom, while recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in operations across eight states.
NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the agency’s latest operations also led to the arrest of a real estate agent, a tour agent, a 70-year-old woman and several other suspects.
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
He stated that a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after he allegedly arrived to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance.
According to Babafemi, Salami presented a secret collection code reportedly sent to him by his brother based in the United Kingdom.
He added that a follow-up operation arising from another UK consignment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was allegedly identified as the recipient of another 12.25kg consignment of Colorado.
Babafemi said the suspect told investigators that his brother in the UK had sent the drug shipment to him.
He stated that NDLEA operatives also intercepted another consignment of Colorado concealed inside a music speaker at the Maza Maza motor park in Lagos.
Babafemi explained that the speaker, containing three packs of Colorado, was allegedly being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Liberia listed as the ultimate destination.
He said a swift sting operation at a nearby eatery led to the arrest of Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, a tour agent, and Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, whom the agency identified as the owner of the consignment.
The NDLEA spokesman added that another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested at Iddo motor park on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
Babafemi said the agency’s operations extended to Delta State, where separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
He stated that several of the substances were concealed inside music speakers.
Babafemi said two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
He disclosed that one of the biggest pharmaceutical drug seizures was made in Kano State, where NDLEA operatives raided the Sabon Gari area and arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Saidu Adamu.
According to him, the operation resulted in the recovery of 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Babafemi added that NDLEA officers conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread.
He said the drugs were seized from Habibu Sabitu, 28.
In Plateau State, Babafemi stated that NDLEA operatives arrested Chinedu Uzor, 51, at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
He said the agency also sustained its campaign against illicit cannabis cultivation, particularly in Edo State.
Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk recovered from cannabis farms located in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West local government areas.
He added that a 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operation on Friday, September 11.
In Ondo State, Babafemi said NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
He stated that the operation led to the recovery of 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.
Babafemi said a 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and allegedly intended to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
He further disclosed that NDLEA operatives in Kaduna State arrested a female suspect, Hannah Michael, at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, Babafemi said four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
He identified the suspects as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
Babafemi said the seizures and arrests formed part of the agency’s continuing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across the country.
He stated that the agency had also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
