The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, recovering multi-million-naira worth of Tramadol pills.
The NDLEA Spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said four suspects detained following intelligence-led operations in Onitsha, Anambra, and Keffi in Nasarawa State, would be prosecuted after investigation.
Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in the bumper and false bottom of two Sienna buses heading to border towns.
He said this followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance operations by operatives of the NDLEA’s Directorate of Intelligence.
Babafemi explained that a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted at Nasarawa- Toto road, Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Jan. 27 at about 6 am.
He disclosed that two suspects were also arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state enroute Yola, Adamawa state.
He added that a second Sienna bus was also intercepted, saying during a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumpers.
“This was where a total of 190, 960 pills of tramadol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.
“Investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra state-based dealer, was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment.”
He said that a swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the supplier at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on Jan. 29.
“Two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house,”he said.
“In another interdiction, operatives of the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra, at Abaji checkpoint, FCT Abuja on Feb. 4.”
Babafemi said that a 32-year old male passenger in the bus, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag, was arrested.
“When his bag was searched, 404, 47 grams of methamphetamine; 506.49grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis were recovered.
“Also, 262.32grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, concealed in the motor parts was recovered,” he said. (NAN)
