NDLEA Intercepts Large Opioid Consignment in Taraba, Arrests 75-Year-Old Drug Dealer in Ebonyi

By: Zagazola Makama

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large consignment of opioids concealed in a truck transporting building materials to Taraba State and arrested a 75-year-old suspected drug dealer in Ebonyi as part of ongoing nationwide operations against illicit drug trafficking.

The agency also arrested four notorious female drug dealers during separate operations in Edo, Imo, Kano and Gombe states.

The Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said operatives of the agency in Taraba dealt a major blow to opioid trafficking networks following the interception of a truck conveying building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.

He said the operation, which followed credible intelligence, was carried out on Saturday at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo.

According to him, a thorough search of the truck led to the discovery of a large quantity of drugs concealed beneath the cargo.

He said a 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Items recovered from the vehicle included 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 tablets of rohypnol and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

In Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Okebe Samuel, at Okposi community.

Babafemi said the septuagenarian was found in possession of 300 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, allegedly packaged in retail sachets for distribution to youths in the area.

In Imo State, operatives raided a drug trafficking enclave at Umulolo in Orlu Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old female suspect, Chioma Okeke.

The operation resulted in the recovery of eight kilogrammes of skunk.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives conducted a series of raids on drug hotspots across Benin City, Edo State, leading to the arrest of four suspected traffickers, including three women.

At Uyosa area of the city, two female suspects identified as Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, were arrested with various illicit substances.

Recovered from them were 176 grammes of skunk, 65 grammes of Loud and five grammes of methamphetamine.

Also, along Agbor Road, operatives arrested 21-year-old Anita Abraham with 95 grammes of Scottish Loud and 329 grammes of regular Loud.

At Upper Mission area of Benin City, a 43-year-old suspect, Henry Okey, was arrested with quantities of Loud, Colorado, Swinol and methamphetamine.

In Kano State, NDLEA officers arrested a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan, at Kafi area of Madobi Local Government Area.

Babafemi said the suspect was found in possession of 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilogrammes.

In another operation in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a suspect, Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, 28, near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of Gombe.

The suspect was arrested with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued across the country with sensitisation programmes in schools and communities.

According to Babafemi, awareness lectures were delivered to students and staff of Holiness Foundation Primary School, Saki, Oyo State; Dorras High School, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State; Ado Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Army Day Secondary School, Kano State, among others.

Reacting to the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers and personnel of the Taraba, Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe Commands for their vigilance and commitment.

Marwa also praised officers across the country for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction operations and drug demand reduction initiatives.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing offenders to justice.

“The agency remains fully committed to dismantling drug supply chains and will continue to target traffickers regardless of age, gender or concealment methods,” he said.