Odita Sunday 
NDLEA Intercepts UK, Australia-Bound Cocaine, Opioids Hidden In Carton Walls, Destroys 65,000kg Skunk In Delta
By Odita Sunday
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted consignments of cocaine and dangerous opioids concealed within the walls of cartons prepared for shipment to the United Kingdom and Australia, even as the agency intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking networks.
The anti-narcotics agency also disclosed that its operatives, supported by soldiers, destroyed a total of 65,000 kilograms of skunk in Delta State forests, intercepted 1,989 rounds of military-grade ammunition hidden inside bags of garri in Kaduna State, and arrested a businessman in Abuja allegedly producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for social gatherings.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the cocaine and opioid consignments were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos during examination of cargoes destined for the UK and Australia.
Babafemi said operatives recovered 170 grams of cocaine buried within the walls of a carton loaded with clothes heading to Australia.
He added that another shipment bound for the United Kingdom contained 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection concealed inside a carton.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area on May 10 where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland.
The agency also recovered 22.9kg of the substance and arrested a 52-year-old suspect identified as Ifeanyichukwu Peter during a follow-up operation at Obiaruku.
A similar operation carried out at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area on May 12 led to the destruction of another 37,500 kilograms of skunk planted on 15 hectares of farmland.
During the raid, operatives recovered 55.4kg of the psychoactive substance and arrested 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera.
NDLEA said the combined operations resulted in the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of skunk.
In Kaduna State, the agency said its operatives arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Husaini Suleiman, after recovering 361kg of skunk during a raid in Dan Magaji area of Zaria.
The agency further disclosed that NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside fresh cassava granules popularly known as garri.
A 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan, was arrested in connection with the ammunition haul.
“The suspect and exhibits have since been transferred to another security agency for further investigation,” the statement added.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter, alleged to be involved in the production of drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings.
Babafemi said the suspect was apprehended at his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja following credible intelligence.
Operatives recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.70kg of drug-laced cookies from him.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani with 181kg of skunk during a raid in Ogere area on May 13.
Similarly, a 27-year-old suspect, Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, was arrested along Zaki-Biam road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.
The agency also arrested two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies at Challenge II area of Saki town.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk during raids on two farms located in Ago forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The statement further disclosed that operatives in Kano recovered 1.2kg of tramaking 225mg pills concealed inside a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil at Kofar Ruwa motor park.
A suspect, Aminu Isa, 35, was also arrested with 30.5kg of skunk at Sabuwar Sharada area of Kano State.
The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign also continued across schools nationwide with sensitisation lectures delivered in institutions across Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti and Kano states.
While commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised commands across the country for maintaining what he described as a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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