The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered consignments of high-potency illicit drugs concealed inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.
The agency disclosed that the drugs, mainly ketamine weighing three kilograms and 199 grams of Ecstasy pills, were cleverly hidden in the machines before being intercepted at a courier company in Lagos.
The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, May 31, in Abuja.
According to him, the seizure was made on Tuesday, May 26, during a routine inspection by operatives of the agency.
Babafemi said the interception formed part of intensified efforts by the anti-narcotics agency to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks using Nigeria as a destination and transit route.
In another major operation in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple and another suspect after intercepting 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms.
The illicit substances were recovered from their residence in the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna on Sunday, May 24.
Babafemi further disclosed that officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway at Jere intercepted another suspect in possession of 380 rounds of military-grade ammunition, identified as RLA 7.62mm ammunition, allegedly being transported to Katsina State.
He stated that the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
According to the agency, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse located at Gidan Kukah in Bosso Local Government Area, of Niger State where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk.
A suspect linked to the warehouse was later arrested in Minna.
Similarly, in Enugu State, operatives conducting patrols along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 pills of tramadol, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
The NDLEA also said its Commands and formations across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
Some of the awareness programmes were held at Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River State; St Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba State; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra State.
Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended officers and operatives involved in the arrests and seizures across Kaduna, Niger and Enugu states, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.
Marwa praised their commitment to reducing drug supply while sustaining public sensitisation campaigns against substance abuse nationwide.
He urged officers and men of the agency not to relent in the ongoing fight against illicit drugs and related criminal activities across the country.
