The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant breakthroughs in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria. In a recent operation, the agency intercepted a shipment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed inside a duvet and destined for export to the United Kingdom. The seizure was carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
According to a statement released by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, two individuals, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, were arrested in connection with the shipment on January 21, 2025. The intercepted shipment contained six parcels of the psychoactive drug, weighing a total of 3.5 kilograms.
During interrogation, one of the suspects, Austin Balogun, confessed to receiving ₦700,000 as payment for facilitating the shipment. He further disclosed that a substantial portion of the money was spent on export handling fees and renting an apartment. This operation highlights the agency’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks and bringing culprits to justice.
Nationwide Arrests and Seizures
In addition to the Lagos operation, NDLEA operatives have carried out multiple successful raids across other states, yielding significant results. In Lagos, officers raided a hideout in Igbo Olumo, Ikorodu, and arrested two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun. Items recovered during the raid included seven liters of “skuchies,” a psychoactive mixture of black currant, cannabis, and opioids, alongside a cache of firearms:
Three locally made double-barrel riflesOne locally made double-barrel pistol
One English-made pistol
One locally made single-barrel rifle
Three cartridges and an empty 9mm cartridge
An iron-head axe
In Mushin, Lagos, operatives conducted another operation on January 19, which led to the seizure of 47 kilograms of skunk and 25.46 kilograms of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, from the notorious Akala area.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested on January 23 along Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti with 1.95 kilograms of Canadian Loud. The operation underscores the agency’s resolve to curb drug abuse and trafficking in all regions of the country.
In Kwara State, the agency’s operatives arrested a suspect identified as Auwal Sani on January 20 in Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area. The arrest led to the recovery of 50,000 tramadol pills, each containing 225mg, weighing a total of 36.56 kilograms. This marked a significant seizure in the ongoing fight against opioid abuse.
In Kano State, three suspects—Abubakar Lami, a Nigerien national, and Nigerians Abba Sani and Auwal Aliyu—were apprehended at Gadar Tamburawa with 13.1 kilograms of skunk and 125 liters of “suck and die,” a psychoactive substance. Furthermore, a cannabis plantation in Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu, was destroyed, and a 45-year-old suspect, Sabo Ali Muhammad, was linked to the farm.
Advocacy and Commendation
As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the NDLEA has been actively engaging with communities, schools, and workplaces across the country to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. Recent sensitization programs were held at institutions such as Army Children Secondary School in Oyo, Government Day Secondary School in Kebbi, St. Dominic Comprehensive College in Akwa Ibom, and District Junior College in Agege, Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, and Ekiti for their successful operations. He also praised the agency’s advocacy teams for their dedication to spreading awareness and fostering a drug-free society. Marwa reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to eradicating drug abuse and trafficking, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the agency and the public in achieving this goal.
[/li][/li]
[/li]
[/li]
[/li]