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By Emma Njoku
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operatives intercepted a consignment of Indian hemp and other psychoactive drugs hidden in the engine compartment of an interstate commercial bus.
Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure, yesterday, said the drugs, weighing at least 5.2kg, were intercepted on Thursday, on Gbongan-Ibadan Road in Osun State. He added that the 35-year-old driver of the bus, who confessed to the crime, was taken into custody for investigation.
“On Wednesday, the previous day, a 26-year-old lady, who produces and distributes “skuchies’’ was arrested in Osogbo, during a raid on her hideout. At least 16.5 litres of skuchies and different quantities of molly and Indian hemp were recovered from her during the raid,’’ Babafemi stated.
Molly acts both as a stimulant and hallucinogen, producing an energising effect, distortions in time and perception, and enhanced enjoyment of tactile experiences.
Babafemi further disclosed that NDLEA operatives arrested a 70-year-old grandfather, and a 65-year-old man in Borno, on Saturday, for drug trafficking. They were arrested in Maiduguri and Gamboru-Ngala, respectively, alongside a 24-year-old and a 28-year-old. He said 32,000 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from them.
“Also, on Saturday, NDLEA operatives at Geidam in Yobe intercepted a Volkswagen Golf 3 car heading to Gagamari in Niger Republic. The 28-year-old driver was to deliver 40 blocks of Indian hemp weighing 24.5kg to a dealer.
“Forty-two cartons, containing 8,400 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,260kg were also recovered from a 29-year-old driver, on Katsina Road, Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 5. In Kano State, a 35-year-old was arrested for being in possession of 62kg of Indian hemp at the Gadar Tamburawa area, where a 40-year-old was also nabbed with 244 bottles of codeine syrup,’’ he stated.
Babafemi added that NDLEA operatives also arrested a 28-year-old man on Kano-Maiduguri Road, last Thursday, with 49,800 pills of tramadol.
“In Lagos State, NDLEA operatives arrested a man at the Igbo Elerin area, on Wednesday, and seized 84 litres of “skuchies’’, 1.1 litres of codeine syrup, 4kg of Indian hemp and 800 tablets of tramadol from him.’’
The NDLEA spokesman also stated that operatives arrested at least eight suspects last Friday, when they raided the notorious Karu abattoir drug joint in the FCT. The operatives recovered 51.3kg of Indian hemp in the raid.
In Plateau, two suspects, aged 45 years and 38 years, were arrested on Monday, March 4, at Zawan, in Jos South Local Government Area, while in possession of Indian hemp weighing 611.438kg.
Babafemi also said NDLEA officers intercepted a Zaria, Kaduna State-bound commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, last Wednesday, in Kogi. He said NDLEA operatives also intercepted 8,580 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from a 40-year-old suspect, on Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway, last week.
“In Enugu, operatives raided some lockup shops at the New Market, on March 5, and seized 371.42kg Indian hemp and 9.49g of methamphetamine.’’
The NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended officers of the agency in Borno, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Osun, Lagos, Plateau, Enugu, Yobe and FCT for jobs well done last week. Marwa charged the officers and their colleagues in other formations nationwide to intensify the war against the trafficking and use of illicit drugs.
