The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.55 kilogrammes of cocaine to India.
Onyebuchi, a marble dealer based in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi.
NDLEA operatives discovered the cocaine concealed in the side walls and railings of his check-in luggage during a routine search.
According to the agency, the suspect confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the cocaine, which he intended to sell in India for about N100 million.
The arrest was among a series of intelligence-led operations carried out by NDLEA commands in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Plateau and Delta states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, opioids, codeine-based syrup and other controlled substances.
In Lagos, operatives raided a warehouse located within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at more than N2.6 billion.
The agency also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, during a raid on his residence on Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja.
A total of 324kg of Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million, was recovered from the residence, alongside a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla.
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, in the Kam Wire area of Ilorin, recovering 55.96kg of skunk from a truck.
In Oyo State, operatives arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The suspects were allegedly found in possession of 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection concealed in their Toyota Sienna vehicle.
In Delta State, NDLEA personnel recovered 124,100 tramadol tablets, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol from two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash.
In Plateau State, operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. The suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested.
Kano State also recorded major seizures, with six suspects arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road.
They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
NDLEA said the operation yielded 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, as well as 360 grammes of cocaine, 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis.
In a separate operation in Kano, operatives recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg in the Zawaciki Gida Dubu area of Kumbotso Local Government Area.
Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the operation.
Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in Oluku, Benin City, with 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.
The agency said its drug demand reduction campaign also continued during the week under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, with sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos, among other institutions.
Reacting to the operations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the affected commands for their efforts.
“I commend the officers, men and women of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the arrests and seizures recorded in the past week,” Marwa said.
He said the operations demonstrated the agency’s determination to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent dangerous substances from reaching communities.
“These operations demonstrate the commitment of our officers to disrupting the activities of drug traffickers and removing dangerous substances from circulation,” he said.
Marwa also commended NDLEA commands across the country for maintaining what he described as a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction.
“We will continue to pursue a fair balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts across the country,” he said.
“Our War Against Drug Abuse advocacy activities remain critical to preventing drug abuse, particularly among young Nigerians, through sustained sensitisation and public enlightenment.”
The NDLEA said investigations into the various arrests and seizures were ongoing and that suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.