The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, and three courier services in Lagos state have uncovered a syndicate that exports opioids hidden in shoe soles and hair attachments bound for the US, UK, and Cyprus.

“A total of 2,118 tramadol pills hidden in the soles of 13 pairs of shoes headed to Cyprus were seized at the export shed of the Lagos airport on October 12, 2024, and additional 380 tablets recovered from the home of the sender, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, during a follow-up operation in Enugu on Thursday, October 24,” stated Agency spokesman Femi Babafemi.

At the time of the suspect’s arrest, a Toyota Avalon vehicle bearing the license plate UWN 389 AS and N968,880 in cash were also found on him.

“On Thursday, October 24, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in Lagos, intercepted at least 293 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injection, along with 1.690 kg of cannabis and tramadol tablets hidden in hair attachments and shoe soles headed to the United States, United Kingdom, and Oman, at three courier companies.”

In the same vein, NDLEA agents seized a total of 26 million tramadol pills, 250,000 tramadol pills, and 508,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at sixteen billion, 683, 800,000 naira (N16, 683, 800,000) in street value.

“The interception took place between Tuesday, October 22, and Wednesday, October 23, at the Tin-Can port in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port, Onne, Rivers state, during a 100% joint examination of watch-listed containers with personnel of the Customs Service and other security agencies.

56 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 28 kg, were also found in a container that arrived at the Lagos port from Canada. Other illegal shipments that were intercepted during the joint inspection of the containers include 10 million tablets of Toradol Benzhexol and 28 plastic drums of methamphetamine weighing 700 kg at Tincan and Onne, respectively.

In connection with the cannabis seizure, a 40-year-old suspect named Tsolaye Eburajolo was taken into custody in the Ago Palace neighbourhood of Okota, Lagos. A bribe of N10 million given to NDLEA personnel in exchange for the suspect’s release has been retained as evidence for the case’s prosecution.

The Igbo-Igunuko shrine, situated at Alfa Beach in Ajah, was searched by NDLEA agents in Lagos on Friday, October 25. During the operation, jumbo bags of Ghanaian Loud, a cannabis strain, weighing 2,760 kg were found, and two suspects, Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun, were taken into custody.

Along the Lagos-Ibadan motorway, another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin, was also taken into custody the same day while in possession of 770 kg of the same psychoactive drug.

NDLEA officers raided the home of a suspect, Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi, on Friday, October 25. They found 64 bottles of codeine syrup and 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, Rohypnol, and diazepam in his bedroom at Marwa Coastal Road, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos.

To evade discovery, the suspect dug out the illegal drug store in the middle of his room, covered it with a rug and padlocked iron slate, and then placed his mattress on top.

In Plateau, suspect Fadan Bindom, 39, was apprehended in Pilgani village with 18 grammes of tramadol and 65.85 kg of cannabis, while suspect Sunday Agbata, 42, was apprehended at Pavwei – Rayfield Jos South LGA on Wednesday, October 23, with 5,830 tablets and ampoules of injections of pentazocine, diazepam, and bromazepam.

Umar Muhammad, 40, a prominent illegal drug distributor in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, was apprehended on Monday, October 21, after a shipment of 198.5 kg of cannabis connected to him was previously seized in Wuse Market Park.

At Ewu junction, Irrua, Esan Central LGA in Edo state, NDLEA agents found 640 kg of cannabis hidden in 80 jumbo bags of fresh vegetables. They also detained a 27-year-old suspect named Austin Oruamen, and on Thursday, October 24, they apprehended another suspect, Adereti Kazeem, 35, who was found in possession of 200 blocks of cannabis weighing 133 kg in Obalayan, Ile-Ife, Osun state.

Over the last week, the agency’s commands and formations nationwide have continued their WADA, War Against Drug Abuse, and sensitisation efforts in workplaces, neighbourhoods, schools, and places of worship with equal vigour.

Among these are the following: a WADA advocacy lecture to Rugar Alhaji Manu Unguwan Sullubawa, Gombi, Adamawa state; a WADA sensitisation lecture to the students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto; St. Mary College, Awka, Anambra state; Prime Rose Model Private College, Saki, Oyo state; Community Model Arabic College, Malumfashi, Katsina state; and Community Junior Secondary School, Rumuomasi, Rivers State.

The officers and men of the MMIA, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, FCT, Osun, Plateau, and Edo Commands of the Agency, as well as those of DOGI, were complimented for the arrests and seizures by NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd).

He said that their operational achievements, as well as those of their countrymen nationwide, are much valued, particularly their efforts to reduce drug demand and supply in a balanced manner.