An illustrative image of the NDLEA building used to illustrate a story on NDLEA's New Year haul.

NDLEA intensifies war against controlled substances, yet an Engineer imports illicit drugs into the country, using pressure machine – according to the agency. 

NDLEA operatives have arrested Egwu Phillip Inya, 42, who claimed to be a building engineer. This happened in Enugu on Dec. 2, while he attempted to collect three pressure machines containing illicit drugs.

The consignment included 7.4 kilograms of “Loud,” a synthetic cannabis strain. The shipment had arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on November 29, 2024.

Based on intelligence, NDLEA officers tracked the drugs through the clearing process. Thy followed the consignment to a warehouse, where the suspect was to collect it. Somehow, the suspect changed the collection point  to Enugu, and agency arrested Inya  during a follow-up operation.

Major drug seizures across Nigeria

The operatives also intercepted 511,000 tramadol pills in Adamawa on December 6. The drugs were in a Siena vehicle. The vehicle’s occupants fled after spotting NDLEA officers. The drugs were abandoned along the Hildi, Askira Uba Road.

In Ekiti, the officials arrested two suspects, Olanrewaju Alale, 48, and Babatunde Kayode Ijadahun, 55,  on December 6. They were transporting 1,323 kilograms of cannabis in a J5 bus  to Ondo State and the North. On the same day, the officers arrested Adekunle Yusuf, 33, with 704 kilograms of cannabis in Oyo State. He concealed the cannabis  in white sacks on Idere Road, Igboora.

In Lagos, operatives apprehended 65-year-old Ramata Bola Adeyemo on December 6. She had 20.6 liters of codeine syrup. The syrup is often abused as a recreational drug, raising serious health concerns.

Another arrest took place on December 5 in Ikeja, Lagos. Alhaji Lawan Manga was apprehended with 4.7 kilograms of cannabis and 1.3 kilograms of tramadol.

Analysts worried over trend as Engineer imports illicit drugs

Analysts are concerned over the growing scale of drug trafficking operations in Nigeria. They said the latest case in which an engineer imports illicit drug  shows how traffickers exploit professional roles to bypass detection.

The sophistication of these trafficking networks is alarming, according to security experts. Analysts stress the importance of intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation. They warn that drug syndicates are adapting to counter security measures.

Meanwhile, the agency continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across Nigeria. It conducts sensitization lectures in schools, religious centers, and workplaces. Recent lectures included sessions at Progressive Secondary School, Oyo State, and Muslim Grammar School, Osun.

NDLEA also engaged with the Government Girls College in Maiduguri and Santa Maria Secondary School in Enugu. The Lagos command held an enlightenment lecture for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). These lectures focus on reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman, commended officers for their successes in recent operations. Marwa praised officers in MMIA, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo for their diligent work. He emphasized the importance of balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction efforts.

By Usoh Udosen

Usoh Udosen is our General Assignment Reporter, with bias for the evolving world of Technology. He covers a wide range of topics, bringing depth and clarity to complex issues. With a commitment to journalistic integrity, Usoh connects with audiences through compelling narratives and informative reporting. His diverse experience and adaptability, spanning seven years, make him a valuable asset to our team.

Leave feedback about this

  • Quality
  • Price
  • Service

PROS

+
Add Field

CONS

+
Add Field
Choose Image
Choose Video