By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized over 9,939kg of loud, Colos and Skunk in Niger, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Lagos and Kano raids, respectively.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that in Niger, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Tuesday, Jan. 26 intercepted a long truck marked T 31589 LA along Dei-Dei Abuja expressway.

This, he said, was where they arrested three suspects for conveying 176 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 2,735 kilograms and 1 kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, concealed in the truck.

He said that investigations revealed that the one who drove the truck left Lagos on January 23 loaded with 800 bags of flour to Ekpoma, Edo State and arrived the following day Jan. 24.

“In Ekpoma, he then negotiated to transport the 176 bags of skunk and 1kg Colos for N1.7million,” he said.

In another interdiction operation, NDLEA operatives in Edo on Tuesday arrested another suspect along Auchi-Abuja express road.

Babafemi said he was arrested while looking for a vehicle to convey 66 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 792kg, to Katsina.

Also, in Edo, operatives supported by Nigerian Army personnel on Wednesday, Jan. 28 raided a cannabis farm at Ebora camp, Ilushi in Esan South East LGA.

Babafemi said that a total of 4,063.675kg skunk was destroyed on over 1.6 hectares farmland while 328kg processed cannabis and its seeds were recovered with some suspects arrested at the camp.

Meanwhile, in Anambra, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, Jan. 28 intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka Onitsha, heading to Nkpor.

Babafemi said that a search of the trailer revealed that bags of cement were used to conceal 345.2kg skunk owned by Abum Okeke, 42, who was one of the three occupants of the truck at the time of arrest.

In another development, at least, two suspects were on Monday arrested at Eleyewo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State in connection with the seizure of 473kg skunk.

Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives in Kano on the same day nabbed another suspect at Murtala Mohammed Way, with 12,500 ampoules of Pentazocine injection recovered from him.

“Not less than 4,390 pills of tramadol were seized from another suspect Musa Shuaibu, 42, when he was arrested in Gaya area of Kano on Tuesday.

“Similarly, NDLEA Operatives arrested a suspected drug trafficker on Friday, Jan. 30 at Okeyson park, Alaba, Lagos, with 15.5kg skunk heading to Onitsha, Anambra state with the illicit consignment,” he stated.

Babafemi said that 3.5kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from a sound system and two packets of cereal found in the luggage of another suspect at the arrival tarmac of Seme border, Badagry on Tuesday.

“The suspect was coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic into Lagos,” he said.

Reacting, NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, was quoted as commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano commands for the arrests, seizures and their professionalism.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue the current balanced approach to their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. (NAN)