The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted opioids valued at over N3.2 billion and made several high-profile arrests across Nigeria, including two octogenarians and a polytechnic student, in a sweeping nationwide operation targeting drug traffickers.
Among those arrested are 80-year-old ex-convict Ayuba Ashiru, and 82-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday, along with her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi.
The arrests were part of coordinated operations that also led to major drug seizures at the Apapa and Port Harcourt ports, recovery of concealed arms, and the dismantling of student-level drug networks.
Ashiru, previously jailed for 10 years for drug offenses, was re-arrested on May 14 in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with 2.3kg of skunk.
He confessed to being involved in drug trafficking for 46 years.
In a separate raid on May 17, NDLEA operatives stormed the home of Mrs. Sunday in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor Village, Abia State, recovering quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk, and N130,600 in cash.
She admitted that she and her daughter continued the drug business after her son, the original dealer, died two years ago.
At the Port Harcourt Port, Onne, officers intercepted three million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg, worth N2.1 billion, on May 14 in a container flagged for examination.
Similarly, at the Apapa Port in Lagos, 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup valued at over N1.1 billion were uncovered on May 13, in a shipment disguised as car parts from India.
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In Kwara State, 199,200 tramadol pills were seized from two suspects. Also arrested was Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student of Kwara State Polytechnic, with 650g of loud cannabis divided into 149 cups, packaged for sale.
NDLEA agents in Lagos also intercepted 250g of cocaine concealed in female headgear bound for Australia at a courier service on May 16.
In Niger State, 143kg of skunk was recovered from a Toyota Carina, while two suspects were arrested in related operations.
Another major bust in Nasarawa State led to the arrest of a 60-year-old suspect with nearly 595kg of skunk.
In Taraba and Jigawa States, tramadol, diazepam, and 198kg of skunk were recovered from multiple suspects.
Additionally, a suspect transporting an AK-47 rifle and two magazines hidden in a maize sack was intercepted on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
