Dec. 6, 2022

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it intercepted no fewer than 132,090 tablets of tramadol and 2000 bottles of codeine across five states and the FCT, Abuja in the past week.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi in Abuja.

Babafemi alleged that an attempt by a freight agent, Aina Adebisi, to export 3,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts to Banjul, Gambia through the Nigeria Aviation Holding Company (NAHCO) export shed, was thwarted by the NDLEA operatives.

He said that the operatives seized the consignment and arrested Adebisi on Nov. 28.

He said that a follow-up operation to Ebute-Meta area of Lagos the following day, Nov. 29 led to the arrest of the actual owner, Afam Stanley, who was a spare parts dealer.

Babafemi said that the arrest was followed by the seizure of 100,000 tablets of Royal brand of Tramadol 200mg.

He said that the drug, weighing 68.90 kilograms, was imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Ethiopian Airlines at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) import shed.

The NDLEA director added that the operatives equally arrested another suspect, Ali Mohammed, along Potiskum- Damaturu Road for drug trafficking.

He said that the suspect was arrested after NDLEA operatives found 29,090 tablets of tramadol in his personal Honda car marked ABC 914 RW coming from Gombe to Damaturu, Yobe state.

Babafemi said the operatives also seized no fewer than 2,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a commercial bus on Dec. 2 along Lokoja – Abuja expressway.

He said 241 bags of psychoactive substance with gross weight of 3,133kg were recovered from a building at Ilale Cashew, Ehinogbe, Owo, on Nov. 29 in Ondo state.

“At least, 507.9kgs of cannabis were seized during a raid at the hideout of a fleeing drug dealer in Mushin area of Lagos on Dec. 1.

“In Cross River, 53 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 567.05kgs were seized from three suspects: Bassey Eyibio, 38; Effiong Etim, 30 and Ngbong Raymond, 45, at Mpara Junction Odukpani LGA.

“This happened on Dec. 1 while they were conveying the consignment in a bus marked CKK 74 AA,” the NDLEA director said.