The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large consignment of opioids concealed in a truck conveying building materials in Taraba State and arrested a 75-year-old suspected drug dealer in Ebonyi State, as part of its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.
The agency also arrested four notorious female drug dealers in coordinated operations across Edo, Imo, Kano and Gombe States.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
According to him, operatives acting on intelligence on Saturday,, intercepted a truck transporting building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo, Taraba State.
The vehicle was searched at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo, leading to the discovery of a large cache of drugs concealed beneath the cargo.
A 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Items recovered from the truck included 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 tablets of rohypnol and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
In Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Okebe Samuel, at Okposi.
The suspect was allegedly found in possession of 300 grams of skunk, which investigators said he sold in retail sachets to youths in the community.
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In Imo State, operatives raided a drug enclave at Umulolo in Orlu, resulting in the arrest of a suspected female drug dealer, Chioma Okeke, 32, and the recovery of eight kilograms of skunk.
The anti-narcotics agency also intensified operations in Edo State, where a sweep of identified drug hotspots in Benin City led to the arrest of four suspects, including three women.
At Uyosa, Benin City, Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, were arrested with 176 grams of skunk, 65 grams of Loud and five grams of methamphetamine.
Another suspect, Anita Abraham, 21, was apprehended along Agbor Road with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.
At Upper Mission, operatives arrested Henry Okey, 43, with quantities of Loud, Colorado, Swinol and methamphetamine.
In Kano State, NDLEA officers arrested a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan, at the Kafi area of Madobi with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilograms.
Similarly, in Gombe State, operatives intercepted Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, 28, near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of the state capital. He was found with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.
Beyond enforcement activities, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across the country with sensitisation programmes in schools, including Holiness Foundation Primary School in Saki, Oyo State; Dorras High School, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State; Ado Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Army Day Secondary School, Kano State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Marwa, commended officers and men of the Taraba, Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe States commands for their vigilance and dedication.
He also praised personnel across other commands for sustaining efforts in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction initiatives.
