Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and related crimes, recording major seizures and arrests across several states, including the interception of military-grade ammunition concealed in garri along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives recovered 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid at the Dan Magaji area of Zaria on Wednesday, May 13, leading to the arrest of a 42-year-old suspect, Husaini Suleiman.
In a separate operation, officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside bags of fresh cassava granules popularly known as garri.
The suspect, 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan, was arrested while transporting the ammunition.
The NDLEA in a statement signed by the Director , Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi said both the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, alleged to be a specialist in producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social events in Abuja.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA officers traced him to his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja on Monday, May 11, where he was arrested. Recovered from him were 800 grams of skunk and 2.7 kilograms of drug-infused cookies.
The agency also recorded major drug seizures in other parts of the country.
In Ogun State, operatives recovered 181 kilograms of skunk from a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani during a raid in the Ogere area on Wednesday, May 13.
Similarly, in Taraba State, a 27-year-old suspect, Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, was arrested along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
In Oyo State, two suspects Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25 were arrested in Challenge II area of Saki town in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies, a locally brewed illicit substance.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State destroyed over 1,388 kilograms of skunk on two cannabis farms during a raid in Ago Forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
In Kano State, officers recovered 1.2 kilograms of tramaking 225mg pills concealed inside a 25-litre jerrycan of palm oil at Kofar Ruwa Motor Park following intelligence reports. Another suspect, Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested in the Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across schools and communities nationwide.
The sensitisation programmes were held at institutions including The Apostolic Church Model College in Ibadan, Oyo State; School of Health Technology in Lambata, Niger State; Yewa Junior High School in Agege, Lagos; Government Secondary School in Yardaje, Katsina State; Igogo Commercial High School in Ekiti State; and Government Girls Secondary School in Kano State.
Commending the officers involved in the successful operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised commands in Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Edo, and the FCT for their efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa also charged operatives nationwide to sustain the balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction through continuous enforcement and public sensitisation campaigns.