The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted several successful operations in Lagos, leading to the seizure of 14,481,519 pills of Tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup worth over N13 billion in street value.
Gatekeepers News reports that the NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday said the operations targeted drug cartels operating in different parts of the city.
The tramadol and codeine syrup were recovered by the NDLEA from three major busts of drug cartels operating in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota and the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
Obafemi revealed that the three intelligence-led operations began with the raid of House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin on Sunday 29th October, where 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup measuring 4, 510, 000mls were recovered.
In the second operation on October 31st, NDLEA operatives raided a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo, located at Onitire, Aguda area of Surulere where 12,700,000 pills of tramadol were seized.
“In the same vein, at least six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport into the country have been arrested and One Million Two Hundred and Ten Thousand (1, 210, 000) pills of tramadol seized from them in a painstaking operation that lasted for weeks.
“The six suspects already in NDLEA custody include: Oladele Sanya-Olu; Lawal Itunu Temitope; Sanamo Alla Daniel; Udeh Felix Monday; Musa Mutalib and Unege Evans Icibor, while three other suspects: Sarki Mubarak Salami; Abdullahi Aliyu (aka Aboki); and Monday Anwal, are now on the run and wanted by NDLEA,” he said.
Additionally, the NDLEA arrested six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport. They seized 1,210,000 pills of tramadol from these suspects.
In a related operation in Osun, the NDLEA stormed the Obada sawmill forest in Owena-Ijesa, Oriade LGA, and arrested a suspect, Monday Sylvester, who was operating a 6.01-hectare cannabis farm. The farm was destroyed, and 489.8 kilograms of processed cannabis plants were recovered.
Furthermore, the NDLEA conducted a raid in Edo at a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi forest, Owan West LGA. During this operation, they seized 603 kilograms of illicit substances.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the agency’s officers and urged them to remain focused as they expand their operations against drug cartels across the country. The NDLEA is making significant efforts to combat drug-related activities and trafficking in Nigeria.
