Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted five different shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances destined for the United States and the United Kingdom. The seizures, made on July 29, 2024, at a logistics company in Lagos, included drugs such as promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine concealed in clothing and other items.
One shipment containing 820 grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was bound for the US, while the remaining four parcels, consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, molly, and NPS, were heading to the UK.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesman, reported that on August 2, 2024, at the Tincan port in Lagos, operatives recovered 77 packages of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, from the body compartments of four vehicles—Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Toyota Corolla, and Toyota Sienna. The vehicles, imported from Canada, were found with a total of 38.5 kilograms of drugs during a joint examination with the Customs Service and other stakeholders. Two suspects, Salami Sunday (34) and Lekan Atoyebi (33), responsible for clearing the shipments, have been detained.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), NDLEA officers intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs from a courier firm in Lagos. These drugs were concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and clothing intended for export to the US and UK. On July 31, 2024, 36 parcels of a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 18.50 kilograms and hidden in six cartons of tins of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, were recovered at the SAHCOL export shed of Lagos airport. The freight agent, Salaudeen Abiola, who presented the consignment for export, was arrested, and a follow-up operation in Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 3 led to the arrest of the sender, Bello Folu.
Babafemi explained that the Cerelac tins were factory-sealed at the top, with the bottoms tampered with to conceal the drugs under loose quantities of the infant cereal meal. Despite this, vigilant NDLEA officers were able to thwart the smuggling attempt.
Additionally, in Edo State, 22 and a half bags of cannabis weighing 220 kilograms were recovered from Egbeta community in Ovia North East Local Government Area on July 30. A suspect, Osayede Aghoma, was arrested. Another suspect, Ibrahim Abubakar (55), was apprehended on July 31 with 40 blocks of cannabis weighing 19.2 kilograms along the Okene-Lokoja highway in a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Kano.
The NDLEA continues to intensify its efforts in combating drug trafficking and ensuring the safety and well-being of the public.
