NDLEA Intercepts ₦10bn Cocaine, Seizes Military-Grade Ammunition in Nationwide Raids

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine and other illicit drugs valued at more than ₦10 billion in coordinated operations across Nigeria, while also recovering 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in kegs of palm oil.

The agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, NDLEA operatives arrested Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old clothing dealer at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, for allegedly attempting to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.

The cocaine was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 22. Investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents before operatives identified and arrested the alleged mastermind while he was reportedly preparing another shipment to the UK.

In another operation, officers arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, at her Surulere residence after intercepting 2.80 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States.

The agency also recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, estimated at over ₦2.2 billion, during a joint examination of cargo imported from India through the Lagos airport. Another consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap bound for the UK was equally intercepted.

At Apapa Seaport, NDLEA uncovered a container carrying three vehicles used to conceal 2,388.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, valued at over ₦7.1 billion.

In Katsina State, operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, while another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, was intercepted along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of red palm oil.

Both suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Edo State, NDLEA recovered 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds during a raid on a warehouse in Ilushi community, while two additional suspects were arrested with quantities of skunk.

NDLEA said it also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities nationwide.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s offensive against drug trafficking and abuse.