NDLEA Intercepts N3.4bn Canadian Loud

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit drugs worth over N3.4 billion, including over 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis, in intelligence-led operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The operations, which also led to the arrest of a man allegedly impersonating a senior police officer, were conducted in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT.

The NDLEA said one of the major seizures was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.

The consignment was discovered at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos after NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance.

According to the agency, the container, which arrived on 12th September, was subjected to a joint physical examination with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)and other security agencies on 16th September.

A search of the container uncovered the 1,200 parcels concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles.

In another major operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, for allegedly impersonating a senior police officer while transporting illicit drugs.

Ekpe was arrested on 16 September with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.

The agency said preliminary investigation showed that the suspect allegedly operated under the name Godwin Emeka and posed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identity card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while moving drug consignments across state lines.

A 39-year-old accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.

In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where 45-year-old Matthew Ossai was arrested.

The agency said the suspect allegedly used the workshop as a cover for storing illicit drugs. Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine from the premises, including a metal box reportedly used for storing the substances.