• Agency intercepts 2.3m tabs of opioids going to Northern states
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 63-year-old grandpa, Sola Afis Abibu, who ships illicit drugs to his daughter in Dubai.
Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday disclosed this in a statement, saying Abibu is a major importer of Loud variant of cannabis from the United States.
According to him, the suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.
“Abibu was arrested in connection with a 19.30kg Colorado consignment from Los Angeles, USA, which was intercepted on 30th June at the NAHCO cargo import shed of the Lagos airport.
“While Abibu was still being interviewed in custody, a 37.1kg consignment of Loud intercepted on 7th July was also traced to him,” he said.
In another development, Babafemi said over 2.3 million tablets of illicit pharmaceutical opioids and other psychoactive substances meant for distribution in seven Northern states of Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Gombe and Nasarawa were also intercepted in series of interdiction operations in last week.
“In all, a total of Two Million Three Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Three (2,325,553.00) tablets and capsules of Tramadol, Pregabalin, Hypnox, Diazepam and Exol-5 including 7, 353 bottles of a new psychoactive substance locally called Akuskura meant for the seven states were seized from locations across Kaduna, Kogi, Sokoto, and the FCT,” he said.
Also, Babafemi said a drug dealer Umar Sanusi, was arrested on Friday 12th August during a follow up operation in Kano and brought back to Kaduna where his consignment of 50 cartons of pregabalin 300mg, containing 750,000 capsules, weighing 375kgs earlier seized along Abuja-Kaduna expressway was counted and weighed in his presence.
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“Same day, operatives also intercepted along Abuja-Kaduna express road 7,068 bottles of a new dangerous substance of abuse called Akuskura meant for Kaduna, Zamfara, Gombe, Kano and Borno.
“The recipients in Kaduna and Zamfara have been arrested during follow up operations. The following day, Saturday 13th August, 285 bottles of the NPS were recovered from a dealer, Abubakar Ahmad, along the same highway.
“In Kogi, no fewer than 696,000 tablets of Tramadol and Exol-5 among others loaded into a truck at Onitsha, Anambra state and heading to Maiduguri, Borno state, were seized along Okene-Abuja expressway on Friday 19th Aug, while NDLEA operatives also recovered 300,000 tablets of Diazepam from a suspect, Faruku Bello, 30, in Sokoto State on Wednesday 17th Aug,” he added.
Meanwhile, officers of the anti-narcotic agency FCT command, at the weekend, intercepted a bus loaded with 323,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg and others.
The bus was heading to Nasarawa State from Onitsha, Anambra State.
“Driver of the vehicle, Osita Nwobodo, 45, who made fruitless bids to compromise the operatives is now in custody,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, a freight agent, Miss Njoko Elizabeth, 37, has been arrested for attempting to export 250grams of Tramadol and cannabis to Dubai through the NAHCO export shed.
It was gathered that the drug exhibits were concealed inside some gallons of palm oil and honey, which were packed among food items and hair attachment.
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