NDLEA records largest cocaine seizure at P/H airport, intercepts N5bn tramadol, others
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) have seized 9.5 million tablets of Tramadol and Exol 5 said to have a street value of over N5 billion during operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, s well as, in Edo State.
This is also the anti-narcotics agency nabbed a 39 year-old Brazil returnee, Nnanna Anayo Michael, at the Port Harcourt airport with 73 sachets cocaine weighing 8.15 kilograms, representing NDLEA’s largest cocaine haul at the airport.
Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters, in Abuja, Mr. Femi, disclosed this in a press statement released, Sunday.
“Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday 29th March alongside 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with weighting 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs to the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.
“In Abuja, about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted on Friday 1st April at Abaji area of the FCT. The truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano.
“Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23 and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested,“ the statement explained.
The anti-narcotics agency also disclosed that various seizures were made during operations in other parts of the country.
“At the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, “a Brazilian returnee Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March with 73 sachets cocaine weighing 8.15 kilograms.
“An immediate follow up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick the drug from Nnenna.
“In Oyo state, 17.6kg cannabis was transferred along with a suspect, Ramon Dauda, 40, to the state command of NDLEA by the Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigerian Customs Service, just as narcotic officers on patrol along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Thursday 31st March intercepted a consignment of 10kg cannabis and 12.1grams of amphetamine in a commercial bus.
“A follow up operation in Ilesa, Osun state led to the arrest of the owner of the drug exhibits, Mrs Remi Aluko, 44.
“In Benin City, three drug joints were raided at Wire road, and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested.
“In another raid in Okada town, a patent medicine dealer, Harrison Odion was arrested with codeine, Tramadol, Exol 5, Diazepam and many other drugs.
“Also, seven drug dealers were arrested in raids in parts of Kano with 80 kilograms of codeine and pentazocine injection seized from them,” the NDLEA statement read.