The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant seizures and arrests in a nationwide crackdown, including the recovery of more than one million pills of opioid-based drugs.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said officers intercepted 1,013,000 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and Exol-5 along the Bauchi-Darazo road on 16 June. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the trafficking operation.
On 17 June, a separate bust took place on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway where NDLEA operatives arrested a 38-year-old suspect attempting to transport 14.2kg of skunk cannabis. The drugs were hidden within sacks of charcoal and containers of rubber solution weighing nearly 200kg.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), six individuals were detained during a raid on 18 June at Karu Abattoir and Torabora neighbourhoods. Seized items included 6.9kg of skunk and 59g of methamphetamine.
Drug smuggling activities were also intercepted in Kano on 16 June. Two individuals were caught transporting 56.2kg of skunk, while another suspect was found with 23,720 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine in Fagge.
Two further arrests on 21 June in Kano yielded an additional 68.6kg of skunk, underscoring the growing trend of drug movement along key highways.
In a worrying development, a 22-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic was arrested on 19 June for allegedly dealing drugs to other students. Authorities recovered 1kg of skunk from her residence in Ilorin.
The agency also dismantled a large cannabis farm in Edo State, destroying over 4.2 tonnes of skunk in Uzebba forest and arresting one suspect. Raids on retail outlets in Emado and Igueben communities led to the seizure of a variety of synthetic and herbal drugs, including Colorado, Molly, and Loud, and the arrest of two more suspects.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, lauded the ongoing enforcement actions, emphasising the agency’s balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand.
“These operations show our sustained commitment to disrupting the drug trade and protecting Nigerian communities from its harmful impact,” said Marwa.
