The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over the weekend, intercepted another significant shipment of codeine-based syrup, marking the second major seizure within a week.
The latest haul, totalling 175,000 bottles, arrived from India and was discovered during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service, and other security agencies.
Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the NDLEA, said the agency’s intensified surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts led to the successful interception of the illicit consignment.
The container, marked HASU 4787890, was destined for a bonded terminal in Enugu before being seized by authorities.
The statement says, “The two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the Agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 percent examination.
“The latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250kg, was made on Friday 7th June 2024 during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service and other security agencies.
“The container marked HASU 4787890 from India was enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.”
This recent seizure comes on the heels of another interception by NDLEA officers, who uncovered five parcels containing various illicit drugs concealed within ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair.
The drugs, including pentazocine injection and promethazine, were bound for destinations in the United States and United Kingdom, underscoring the global reach of Nigeria’s drug trade.
Meanwhile, in separate operations in Kebbi and Gombe states, NDLEA operatives arrested individuals in possession of significant quantities of diazepam, cannabis, tramadol, and other controlled substances.
NDLEA operatives in Kebbi state, while patrolling Kalgo-Birnin Kebbi road on Saturday, June 8th, arrested a 32-year-old Nigerien named Hassan Mummuni.
He was found with 4,000 diazepam pills and 1.250 kg of cannabis hidden in four pesticide tanks. On the same day, officers in Gombe state apprehended Ibrahim Abubakar, also known as Alhajiji, at Herwagana with 6,740 tramadol pills and 20,000 diazepam tablets.
In Benue state, authorities recovered 1,098 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a suspect named Onyekachi ThankGod Iwula, 42, who was arrested on a commercial bus at Aloma junction, Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA.
In Bauchi state, NDLEA officers patrolling the Ningi-Kano road on Wednesday, June 5th, arrested a 20-year-old woman, Hasana Usman, who was in possession of 25 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 28.2 kg. Meanwhile, in Yobe state, operatives captured 42-year-old Ali Mohammed along Kano-Potiskum road with 19,000 tramadol 225 mg pills hidden in a black sack and his travel bag.
These arrests highlight the widespread nature of drug trafficking networks across the country.
In yet another incident, a suspect was apprehended in Benue state with over 1,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in his possession.
