The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant drug-related arrests and seizures in recent operations across Nigeria, targeting international drug traffickers and large shipments of illicit substances.
Key Arrests and Seizures:
- Paul Okwuy Mbadugha Arrested:
- Location: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
- Details: The 54-year-old businessman, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, was arrested after testing positive for ingesting cocaine. He excreted 88 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.71 kg, over four days under observation. Mbadugha, bound for Vietnam via Qatar Airways, claimed he was offered $2,000 to deliver the cocaine.
- Drug Seizure in Lagos:
- Location: Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
- Details: NDLEA intercepted 800 grams of “Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden in noodles destined for Congo. A follow-up operation at Alaba International Market led to the arrest of Nnamani Sunday Sunny, the sender, who deals in GSM handsets.
- Large Consignment of Cannabis:
- Location: Lagos Airport.
- Details: NDLEA seized 65.80 kg of “Loud” cannabis concealed in six suitcases arriving from Canada on an Air France flight. Desalu Taophic Temitope, who transported the drugs, was arrested. He confessed that he was promised $10,000 for the successful delivery.
- Codeine Syrup Seizure:
- Location: Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.
- Details: NDLEA, in collaboration with Nigeria Customs, intercepted 892,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at over N6.2 billion, shipped from India. The bottles, packed in 5,337 cartons, were found in five containers.
- Cannabis Farm Raid:
- Location: Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
- Details: A joint operation by NDLEA, Nigerian Army, and local security destroyed 21,800 kg of cannabis sativa spread over 20 hectares of farmland.
- Drug Interceptions Across Nigeria:
- Locations: Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway (Abuja), Kontagora (Niger State), and Lokoja (Kogi State).
- Details: NDLEA officers seized 30,000 ampoules of pentazocine, arrested multiple suspects with large quantities of tramadol and pentazocine injections, and confiscated pills concealed in various items like loudspeakers.
These operations highlight NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking within and outside Nigeria, targeting both local distributors and international drug couriers. The agency continues to work in coordination with other security bodies to combat the spread of narcotics across the country
See pictures below:
