By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized large consignments of illicit drugs during raids in six locations: Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi, giving a breakdown, said NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo between Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, arresting six suspects.

He said that the suspects included 85-year-old grandma who was arrested with 179kg of skunk at Warake in Edo.

“Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, October 17 raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, Ondo State, and destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares.

“Five suspects were arrested and exhibits recovered included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh stems, a total of 1, 281 kilograms.

“In Owo area of the state, operatives on Friday, Oct. 16 trailed 53-year-old man to his hideout in Ameyinti where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg,” he said.

“Not less than 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and exol-5 tablets were recovered from another suspect at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA, Bauchi state when NDLEA officers intercepted his Volkswagen Golf wagon car on Wednesday, October 14.

“The same day, operatives on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned car at Tudun Natsira village,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Kano, two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 13 along the Zaria-Kano road, with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg seized.

Babafemi said that a 54-year-old suspect was also arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 on Wednesday, October 14.

“A raid by NDLEA operatives at Kayimi village, Kaduna state also led to the arrest of another suspect, with 496.5kg of cannabis,” he said.

“In a separate raid at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, a suspect was arrested with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg, while a 42-year-old suspect was arrested with 29,500 capsules of tramadol at Utako area of Abuja on Saturday, Oct. 17.

“With the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

“These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Nawar-Ur-Deen High School, Ogboro, Oyo state; Elf Junior Secondary School, Bojude, in Gombe; Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos.

“Others included Harmony Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi; Government Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River and Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Port Harcourt.

“Also, Mesh International School, Benin City, Edo; and Abu Hanifa Academy, Kano Municipal, Kano state, among others.”

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of Apapa, Tincan, MAKIA, and Lagos Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the various successful operations.

Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the onslaught against drug trafficking networks, while continuing with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency. (NAN)