- Seizes 514,420 pills of opioids in Gombe, Adamawa, Ogun raids
A thwarted drug smuggling attempt unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja on August 23rd, 2023. Erasmus Jean Pierre, a 29-year-old South African, was apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while attempting to export 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage to the Middle East. The vigilance of NDLEA operatives prevented the illicit drug from reaching its intended destination.
According to Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, the suspect was intercepted as he was undergoing the outbound clearance process for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 404, bound for the Middle East via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A meticulous search of his belongings uncovered a powdery, whitish substance—identified as methamphetamine—carefully concealed throughout the luggage.
Initial investigations revealed that the individual had entered Lagos from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on August 19th, arrived in Abuja on August 22nd, and took possession of a brown bag containing the illicit drugs on August 23rd. His intention was to transport the contraband out of Nigeria.
In a separate incident, NDLEA officers on patrol in Gombe state discovered an abandoned Volkswagen Sharon vehicle (with license plate GME 76 XD) on August 21st. The vehicle contained a staggering 373,420 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam. Similarly, in Ogun state on August 23rd, law enforcement operatives raided the residence of a drug dealer named Ifeanyi Orji in the Ibafo area. This operation resulted in the confiscation of 81,000 tablets of tramadol (225mg each), weighing a total of 32.4 kilograms.
In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives apprehended a suspect named Ibrahim Abba, aged 25, on August 22nd. He was traveling in a commercial Toyota Starlet car from Kalaa village to Mubi when 60,000 pills of tramadol were found in his possession.
Moving to the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, law enforcement agents intercepted two shipments of skunk with a combined weight of 1,242.1 kilograms. The first shipment, weighing 665.1 kilograms, was seized on August 20th from a truck in the Area 3 region. The second, weighing 577 kilograms, was discovered on the same day during a stop and search operation along the Lokoja-Abaji expressway. The skunk had been concealed within Jumia goods delivery packaging, inside a container Mercedes truck. The driver, Yusuf Yakubu Asokomhe, and his assistant, Tunde Ogundare, were apprehended.
In yet another operation, NDLEA officers on patrol in Kwara state on August 22nd intercepted a commercial truck traveling from Lagos to Katsina. Concealed among other items were 37.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa. The driver, Abdulazeez Usman, and his assistant, Halidu Musa, were arrested.
Further efforts in Yobe state on August 23rd resulted in the interception of an ash-colored Sharon Galaxy vehicle with license plate AKK 484 XA along the Potiskum-Gombe road. The vehicle was traveling from Baissa in the Kurmi local government area of Taraba state. Inside were three suspects—Ya’u Yahuza (30), Yahaya Muhd (29), and Tanimu Salisu (20)—along with 133 blocks of cannabis sativa, totaling 62 kilograms.
Meanwhile, in Edo state on August 24th, NDLEA operatives ventured into the Uzebba forest in Owan West local government area. There, they arrested Esazobor Ohioze, aged 33, and seized 54.3 kilograms of cannabis from a hut. Additionally, nearly 3 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed during this operation.
The efforts of NDLEA officers and personnel in various commands were acknowledged and commended by Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA. He praised the accomplishments of the NAIA, Gombe, Ogun, Adamawa, FCT, Kwara, Yobe, and Edo Commands, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI). Brig. Gen. Marwa encouraged these teams to continue their unwavering efforts in reducing drug supply and demand across the country.
