The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made several significant arrests and seizures in its efforts to combat drug trafficking in the country. According to a statement signed by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives of the agency have arrested several suspects and seized large quantities of drugs.

In one notable incident, a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, was arrested with 57.2kg of cannabis in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The agency also seized over N2.1 billion worth of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, at the Port Harcourt seaports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

At the Lagos airport, a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis, was arrested while attempting to smuggle 164.5kg of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, worth N960 million, into the country. The suspect claimed he was recruited to transport drugs from Canada to Nigeria for a fee of N6 million.

The agency also seized a container from India containing 1,750 cartons of codeine, weighing 26,250kg and valued at N1.225 billion. The container was destined for Enugu and was discovered during a joint examination by the NDLEA, customs, and other security agencies.

In addition, two suspects were arrested in Ekiti State with 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks. The agency also destroyed over 4,000 kilograms of cannabis on 1.66 hectares of farmland in the same state.

In Katsina State, 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg were seized from a Nigerien national, Suleman Audu, who was arrested by the NDLEA officers along Zaria-Malumfashi Road.

Furthermore, a 25-year-old woman, Blessing Thomas, was arrested in Abuja with 1kg of methamphetamine in her possession. She was travelling by bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa State when she was caught along the Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway.

The NDLEA’s efforts to combat drug trafficking have resulted in significant seizures and arrests across the country.