morganable news/security& justice
Beyond enforcement actions, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign across the country.
KaNo—
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing a combined 44.45 kilogrammes, in a series of coordinated operations targeting drug trafficking networks across Nigeria.
The agency disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, detailing multiple arrests and recoveries made in Lagos, Kano, Delta, Plateau, Ondo, Kaduna, Bayelsa, and Edo states.
According to the statement, one of the major interceptions occurred at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, where operatives uncovered a United Kingdom-bound shipment concealing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg. The illicit substance was hidden in consolidated cargo.
Babafemi said a suspect, Abideen Jide Salami, identified as a real estate agent, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after he showed up with a secret collection code reportedly relayed by his UK-based brother to retrieve the consignment.
“A follow-up operation stemming from intelligence gathered from the first seizure led operatives to the recipient of another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg,” the statement added.
The second suspect, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, allegedly told investigators that the drugs were also sent to him by his brother residing in the United Kingdom.
NDLEA Intercepts Additional Consignments
In a related development, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted additional consignments concealed in music speakers at motor parks in Lagos.
At Maza-Maza motor park, officers discovered a speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado intended for onward shipment to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
Following a sting operation at a nearby eatery, two suspects identified as a tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46,were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, at Iddo motor park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was apprehended on Friday, September 11, while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the arrest of suspects and the seizure of various controlled substances, including ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (commonly known as Hypnox), and MDMA, popularly referred to as Molly.
NDLEA officials said some of the drugs were also concealed in modified music speakers. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
NDLEA Arrests Drug Suspects In Kano
In Kano State, a raid carried out in the Sabon Gari area resulted in the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect, Saidu Adamu, with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
The agency described the seizure as one of the largest single recoveries of the substance in recent times.
Another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, who was found in possession of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread, highlighting the evolving methods used by traffickers to evade detection.
The agency also intensified its efforts to dismantle cannabis cultivation networks. In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk,a strain of cannabis on farms located in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest, and Ogboha Forest across Ovia South-West, Owan East, and Owan West Local Government Areas.
A suspect, Sunday Segun, 39, was arrested during the operation.
In Ondo State, officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road in Akure, where they recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and was allegedly planning to transport the consignment to Jos for distribution.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was apprehended at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects including a 70-year-old woman, Godwoman Gboriye were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.
NDLEA Reveals Plan To Sustain War Against Drug Abuse
Beyond enforcement actions, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign across the country.
Among the activities highlighted were an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the Cross River State College of Health Technology in Calabar; and a courtesy visit by traditional rulers from Rikkos to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
The agency’s Zone 4 Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State, as part of efforts to strengthen community engagement in the fight against drug abuse.
He charged them to “continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels, whether at airports, seaports, land borders, or in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.”
NHRC Raises Concerns Over Rising Drug Abuse
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has raised concerns over the rising rate of drug abuse among Nigerian youths, calling for urgent and coordinated action.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), described substance abuse as a growing threat to public health, security, human dignity, and national development.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach that combines law enforcement with respect for human rights, in line with the Constitution, the Mental Health Act 2021, the National Health Act 2022, and international drug control conventions.
Ojukwu cautioned against stigmatising individuals struggling with drug dependence, urging stakeholders to prioritise access to healthcare, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and reintegration opportunities.
He noted that drug abuse is often linked to broader societal challenges, including domestic violence, crime, human trafficking, and insecurity, underscoring the importance of addressing the issue holistically.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a public health approach to drug use and harm reduction, aligning with global efforts marked annually on June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
As authorities intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse, stakeholders continue to emphasise the need for sustained collaboration between security agencies, communities, and public health institutions to curb the menace.
