Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reportedly raided a hotel in Lagos, seizing consignments of drug-laced cereals destined for Pakistan and Italy. The agency also arrested dozens of suspects during coordinated sting operations across no fewer than ten states.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, in a statement on Sunday, said NDLEA agents in a joint operation with aviation security officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Wednesday, July 16, seized a stash of 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from one Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, an outbound passenger on Turkish Airlines headed to Italy via Istanbul.
He affirmed that Uyiosa admitted to purchasing the substances to sell them in Europe.
Babafemi explained that the next day, Thursday, July 17, NDLEA operatives stationed at the airport’s export shed intercepted a bizarre shipment: 17 parcels of skunk—a high-potency variant of cannabis—weighing 1.70kg were found concealed in packs of cereal, headed for Pakistan. One Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the cargo, was promptly arrested.
The statement said, “Meanwhile, a major drug den masquerading as a hospitality facility was busted in the Ogudu area of Lagos. NDLEA stormed Sarah Sam Hotels, located at 115 Ogudu Road in Kosofe LGA, on Saturday, July 19, following weeks of surveillance.
“The hotel, a 20-room family business, doubled as a distribution hub for “party drugs” including 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of cannabis-laced gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. The primary suspect, Obayemi Oyetade, was found with three vehicles and illicit substances stashed in his room.
“In Kaduna State, three suspects—Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu—were arrested the same day in Chikun LGA’s Narayi High Cost area with a staggering 742.8kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain.
“Further north, NDLEA officers on Wednesday, July 16, intercepted one Lawan Rabiu along Danbatta-Kazaure road in Kano with 36,000 tramadol pills.
“In Gombe State, the crackdown intensified with the arrest of Aliyu Abubakar at Gombe roundabout on Friday, July 18, with 25,000 tablets of tramadol and Exol-5. The same day, another duo—Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris—was caught transporting 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg in Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA.
“Along Baga road in Maiduguri, Borno State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Mercedes-Benz C180 with plate number GUB 409 AA on Saturday, July 19. Inside: 74,360 pills of opioids. Audu Modu, 44, was arrested.
“In Bayelsa, NDLEA agents busted a 63-year-old grandmother, Akuna Nelson, in the Osiri area of Yenagoa with 163 litres of “skuchies”—a deadly local cocktail of drugs mixed with alcohol.
“In Kogi State, four suspects—Ikechukwu Abugu, Sunday Ani, Chukwu Christian, and Emmanuel Olisakwe—were nabbed along the Okene-Lokoja highway with 2kg of methamphetamine. The suspects were en route from Onitsha to Minna.
“Abia State also recorded a major hit. On Monday, July 14, NDLEA stormed the home of notorious Aba drug dealer Nduka Obi, 39, at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road. Officers recovered tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and N736,000 in cash.”
“In Enugu, Chisom Okpalaeke, 30, was caught on July 16 with 45,000 tramadol pills along the Onitsha–Enugu expressway. In Taraba, NDLEA operatives apprehended Ngwokwoka Thomas and Mohammed Audu, both 44, with 10,000 tramadol caps and a gram of cannabis in Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA,” the statement added.
