The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three persons with disabilities (PWDs) for alleged drug trafficking in separate operations across Anambra and Kwara states, while also uncovering a massive drug stash valued at over N5.8 billion in Lekki, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
According to the statement, a 60-year-old suspect, Romanus Nwabara, was arrested on Wednesday, May 6, in Akpaka Forest, Onitsha, Anambra State, following intelligence reports linking him to illicit drug activities.
NDLEA operatives reportedly recovered 250 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets from him.
In another operation in Ogbunike, Anambra State, officers arrested 25-year-old Amos Kenneth, also identified as a person with disability, on Thursday, May 7.
Recovered from the suspect were 160.3 grams of Tramadol in 225mg and 100mg doses, 80 pills of Diazepam, 38.23 grams of Exol-5 and 176.93 grams of skunk.
Similarly, operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu in Kwara State intercepted a commercial vehicle on Friday, May 8, where another PWD, identified as Usman Salisu, was allegedly found with 6.3 kilograms of skunk concealed in a brown school bag.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives attached to the agency’s Special Operations Unit raided a mansion located at 36 African Lane, Lekki Phase 1, which was allegedly being used as a drug stash house.
The raid, carried out on Friday, May 8, led to the recovery of 4,000 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 2,326 kilograms.
The agency estimated the street value of the seized drugs at N5.815 billion.
Also recovered from the mansion were two Mercedes-Benz buses and various designer packaging sachets allegedly used for retail distribution of the illicit substances.
In a related operation in Nasarawa State, NDLEA operatives arrested 38-year-old Emmanuel Osita Okeke at Nyanya Karu on Monday, May 4, with 129 kilograms of skunk.
Meanwhile, along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives intercepted a white commuter J5 bus heading to Abuja on Friday, May 8.
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A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 76 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 766 kilograms and the arrest of three suspects identified as Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond and Babangida Musa.
The agency also uncovered a makeshift “skuchies” production factory in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos during a raid on Wednesday, May 6. Two suspects, Bose Jamiu and Gbenga Gege, were reportedly arrested while allegedly cooking cannabis and mixing it with other illicit substances.
NDLEA said officers recovered 270 litres of the already-produced psychoactive mixture, popularly known as skuchies, as well as 106 grams of Tramadol 225mg from the location.
The agency said it continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres and communities.
Some of the awareness programmes held during the week took place at Ta’al Model Secondary School in Lafia, Nasarawa State; Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti; Adventist Secondary Technical College in Owerrinta, Abia State; Golden Anchor Secondary School in Shomolu, Lagos; and Mallam Ibrahim Islamiyya School in Rano, Kano State, among others.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the operations across Lagos, Anambra, Kwara, Kogi and Nasarawa states for their efforts in drug supply reduction and public sensitisation campaigns.
He urged operatives across the country to sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drugs.
