The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine and opioids concealed in the soles of shoes, destined for the United States.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, reported that the seizures in Lagos included various opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection.
“Approximately 250 grams of cocaine hidden in custom-made shoe soles and over five kilograms of opioids destined for the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI).
These substances were hidden in clothes and other household items meant for shipment through some courier firms in Lagos,” Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday.
Additionally, a consignment of 440 grams of a synthetic cannabis strain known as “loud” from Canada was intercepted at a logistic company.
On July 8, operatives raided a warehouse in Lekki’s VGC, Lagos, recovering 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas), 108 cartons of fast gas cylinders, 134 balloons, and 109 cartons of infusion chargers. A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam, was arrested in connection with this seizure.
Drug Interceptions in Edo, Ogun, Borno, and Katsina
Babafemi detailed further seizures across multiple states. In Edo state, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle at Ewu junction in Esan Central LGA. Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was found with custard containers holding 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg. Abdullahi claimed he had purchased the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state, intending to sell them in Abuja’s Mararaba area. He was arrested on July 10.
The following day, operatives destroyed 5,429.751kg of cannabis growing on 2.918 hectares of farmland in Edo’s Ohen forest, arresting four suspects: Godday Ariye, 37; Friday Okafor, 59; Obinna Nwosu, 48; and Yusuf Adamu, 27.
In Ogun state, NDLEA officials recovered 2,865 kilograms of cannabis at Afami Ibese on July 9. The suspected owner, Umar Ibese, is currently at large.
On the same day, in a joint operation with the army, NDLEA agents recovered 2,455 kilograms of materials for producing Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga LGA, Borno.
