NDLEA smashes another two sets of syndicates, as they attempt to smuggle drugs across the borders. Find out the juicy details below…
In a major operation spanning multiple states, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates. The agency’s efforts resulted in the recovery of billions of naira worth of illicit drugs, including cocaine, opioids, and cannabis. The authorities arrested six suspected cartel leaders during the operations across various parts of Nigeria.
Drug cartels targeting Nigeria and Cameroon
The two syndicates dismantled by NDLEA primarily operated in Nigeria and Cameroon. Key syndicate suspected members were based in Mubi, Adamawa State; Onitsha, Anambra State; and Lagos. The syndicates were under suspicion for supplying drugs to terrorist groups in both countries.
The arrests made include six key figures: Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi Martin, and Adejumo Elijah Ishola. Intelligence uncovered a significant network trafficking large quantities of tramadol and other substances between Nigeria and Cameroon. The investigation revealed that the drugs were often sourced in Onitsha and transported via a complex network of hidden compartments in vehicles, travelling from the East to the North at night.
On October 7, 2024, Ibrahim Bawuro and Najib Ibrahim were tracked from Onitsha to Taraba. On October 8, they were arrested after abandoning a Toyota Avensis car on the Jalingo-Yola expressway. The car contained 276,500 tramadol pills. Further operations led to the arrest of Ezeh Amaechi Martin and Udechukwu Nelson Anayo in Delta and Anambra states.
NDLEA smashes smuggling ring at Seme Border
In a separate operation, Adejumo Elijah Ishola, a 37-year-old suspected drug trafficker, was arrested at the Seme border on November 5. He was traveling from Ghana with 3.3 kilograms of cocaine and 600 grams of synthetic cannabis. The arrest followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on his cross-border activities.
Also, NDLEA operatives at Apapa seaport intercepted a massive shipment on November 6. Authorities found the container concealed 31.75 million pills of Voltron, a controlled opioid. The suspects originally labeled it as containing diclofenac sodium tablets. This seizure became possible because of the collaboration between the Customs Service and other agencies.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, the agency seized a 700-gram consignment of cannabis on November 5. Officers intercepted the package after a software engineer, Olu Marshal, attempted to collect it. A follow-up search at his home in Lekki led to the discovery of more drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher.
Efforts to smuggle codeine to UK foiled
Another significant bust took place on November 8 at MMIA, where NDLEA operatives stopped an attempt to send 32.5 kg of codeine syrup and 5.7 kg of cannabis to the UK. The suspects concealed the drugs in tiger nuts cargo. The arrest of Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji, in Lagos, and further investigation led to his warehouse in Ajao Estate.
NDLEA’s operation also uncovered a large quantity of opioids in Kwara State. On November 8, authorities seized a total of 162,800 opioid pills from four suspects. Among the items recovered were:
- 112,200 tablets of tramadol from Wahab Alao Saliu (18 years old) in Ilorin.
- 29,000 pills of tramadol, 200 ampoules of diazepam, and 99 bottles of codeine syrup from Ahmed Isiaka.
These drugs were being trafficked in different parts of Kwara.
Significant seizures as NDLEA smashes narcotics cartel
In Abuja, on November 7, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck with 755.5 kg of cannabis concealed under empty noodle cartons. The officials caught a driver, Lukman Rasheed, on the Abaji-Kwali road. In Taraba, NDLEA arrested Yusuf Abubakar (43) on November 4, with 361 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 156.95 kg.
NDLEA also made significant cannabis seizures in Plateau and Kano. On November 6, operatives arrested two suspects, Hamza Yakubu (30) and Abdulra’uf Danjuma (23), with 113 blocks of cannabis in Jos. On November 5, they also arrested a Chadian national, Hassan Muhammad Ali (31), in Kano with 3,000 tramadol pills.
NDLEA continued its operations in Edo and Ondo States. In Edo, operatives seized a total of 1,306 kg of cannabis, including 1,078 kg in the Okhuokhuo Isi forest and 228 kg at Sabo-Auchi.
In Ondo, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects in Emure Ile with 672 kg of cannabis on November 6. Further seizures included 513 kg of cannabis in Gbodo Camp, Ikun Akoko, and 4,908 kg from a suspect in Akure.
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