The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recovered no fewer than 2,601.5 kilograms of cannabis and 102,500 pills of pharmaceutical opioids during interdiction operations in Plateau, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Kogi, Kano, Lagos, and Adamawa states.

While 309kgs of cannabis were recovered from a Bauchi-bound Toyota Camry car marked KUJ 218 BS driven by a 37-year-old suspect, Godwin Ojo, in Jos, the Plateau State capital on Saturday, 718kgs of the same substance were seized by the NDLEA officers in an uncompleted building in Sabongida-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

He disclosed that 250.3kgs of Cannabis Sativa were recovered from three suspects in raids across Abbi, Ndokwa West LGA, and Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Babafemi listed the suspects as Wilson Ejougo, 43; Okpor Charles Chuks, 33; and Grace Isaiah, 51.

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The NDLEA spokesman noted that a 35-year-old suspect, Umar Halidu, was arrested with 18kgs of cannabis at Mutum Biyu, Gassol LGA of Taraba State, adding that the trio of Ali Abdulwahab, Bashir Musa, and Ibrahim Shuaibu Abdullahi were nabbed with 532kgs of the psychoactive substance in their truck in Kogi State.

Babafemi revealed that 189 blocks of cannabis weighing 131kgs were seized from a 29-year-old suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar, in the Mariri area of Kano State.

He said 119.4kgs of the same substance were recovered from four suspects in parts of Lagos State, adding that additional 523.8kgs were seized in a bus heading to Port Harcourt along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the early hours of Sunday, January 22, 2023.

The NDLEA spokesperson stated that four suspects, Okechukwu Umen, Lanre Adebayo Ismaila, Adeshina Adigun Fatai, and Emmanuel Omijeh, were arrested in connection with the seizure, noting that N3 million offered as a bribe has been kept as part of the exhibits for their prosecution.

Babafemi added that 102,500 pills of opioids were recovered from the store of a mobile dealer in a joint operation with military personnel at old park, Mubi, Adamawa State.

In his reaction, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers of the anti-drug agency, stating that the feat is a confirmation that his warning to drug barons is no fluke but a work plan well-grounded on determination and commitment of the officers and men of the agency to rid Nigeria of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Bawa also urged the NDLEA operatives well as their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and focused on the corporate goal of the agency.

The Star