From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Canine, Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, for onward distribution to some Northern states.
The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday January 11, 2025, led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment, but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond. The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said in another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.
“No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA.
“ The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.
“A total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1,190,168,200.00 in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.
“The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.
“In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah,Lekki, where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.
“Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.
“A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers, who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday January 9, where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week”.