Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized 25 million pills of tapentadol—an opioid three times stronger than tramadol—and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Tincan port complex in Lagos. The total street value of the intercepted drugs is estimated at N14.9 billion.
According to a statement from NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the drugs were discovered on Tuesday, 17th, and Friday, 20th September 2024, after intelligence led the agency to place the shipments under surveillance. NDLEA coordinated a 100% joint examination of the containers with customs and security agencies, uncovering 500 cartons of tapentadol, valued at N13.7 billion, and two consignments of codeine-based cough syrup, valued at N2.45 billion.
In separate operations, NDLEA officers arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Pa Aremu Shojobi, last Friday in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, for possessing 14kg of cannabis. The octogenarian confessed to dealing in illicit drugs for 25 years, sourcing his supplies from Benin Republic.
Additionally, operatives raided two homes of Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, a community leader in Badagry, recovering 226kg of cannabis from his two wives and son. Though Alhaji Talba remains at large, his wives and son were apprehended after large quantities of cannabis were found in their homes.
The NDLEA also made several other significant arrests across the country, including a drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi, caught at Kano airport attempting to smuggle 1.267kg of cocaine in his stomach. Several other raids in Kogi, Rivers, Niger, Plateau, and Kwara states resulted in the interception of thousands of pills, cannabis blocks, and other illicit drugs.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the agency’s officers, commending their success in balancing drug supply reduction with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns across the country.
