By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine and various opioids concealed in walls of cartons, used to package cloths and other items en route UK and Australia.

A statement by the NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja, said the two seizures were recorded at a courier company in Lagos on Friday.

This, he said, was during examination of shipments going to the UK and Australia.

Babafemi said a total of 170grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and buried in the walls of a carton of clothes heading to Australia, were recovered.

He added that a wide range of opioids including 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection, were recovered from another carton, with UK as its final destination.

In another development in Delta, operatives of the agency on Sunday, May 10, raided the Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area (LGA) where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk, on 11 hectares of farmland.

He noted that the NDLEA operatives recovered 22.9kg of the same substance at the location.

Babafemi said a 52-year-old suspect was arrested in a follow up operation at Obiaruku.

“In a related development, a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2kg pills of tramaking 225mg, was recovered from Kofar Ruwa motor park in Kano on Monday, May 11 following credible intelligence.

“A suspect was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area of the state the same day, with 30.5kg skunk,” he said.

According to him, a similar raid in Orogun village, Ughelli North LGA on Tuesday, May 12, led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms and recovery of 55.4kg of the same psychoactive substance on 15 hectares of farm, as well as the arrest of a suspect.

“This brings the total weight of skunk destroyed by NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers in the two operations, to 65,000 kilograms.

“Similarly, 361kg skunk was recovered and a suspect arrested during a raid operation at the Dan Magaji area of Zaria town, Kaduna, on Wednesday, May 13,” he said.

Babafemi added that a large cache of military-grade ammunition was intercepted by operatives of the agency on patrol, along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, Kaduna, on Tuesday, May 12.

Speaking further, he said a suspect was caught conveying the 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm concealed in fresh white cassava granules, locally known as garri.

Babafemi stated that both the suspect and the exhibit had since been transferred to another security agency for further investigation.

He added that In the FCT, the NDLEA operatives on Monday, May 11, arrested a 29-year-old businessman, who specialised in producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings.

“Following credible intelligence, he was traced to his home at the Life Camp area of the FCT, where he was nabbed with 800grams of skunk and 2.70kg drug laced cookies, recovered from him.

“In the same vein, 181kg skunk was recovered from a suspect, when NDLEA operatives raided the Ogere area of Ogun on Wednesday, May 13.

“Also, in Oyo, two suspects were arrested on Thursday, May 14, at the Challenge II, Saki town, in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies,” he said.

Babafemi added that another suspect was arrested with 105,850 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 along Zaki- Biam road Wukari LGA, Taraba, on the same Thursday.

According to him, a total of 1,388 and 4,175 kilograms of skunk were also destroyed on two farms on Friday when NDLEA officers raided the Ago forest, in Orhionmwon LGA in Edo.

He stated that the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands had continued across the country in the past week.

“Some of them include: the WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo, Ibadan in Oyo and the School of Health Technology, Lambata, in Niger.

“Also listed are Yewa Junior High School, Agege, Lagos, Government Secondary School, Yardaje, Katsina, Igogo Commercial High School, Igogo in Ekiti and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan, Kano, among others,” he said.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the officers and men of Kogi, Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, FCT and Edo Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

Marwa also praised their counterparts in other commands across the country, for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply and demand reduction efforts. (NAN)

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