Lagos: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully apprehended a 75-year-old grandmother and two couples during a series of coordinated operations targeting illicit drug activities across the states of Oyo, Lagos, and Ekiti. These raids resulted in the recovery of over 1.5 tonnes of illegal substances.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, announced that one of the most significant operations took place in the Dangote area of Elekara, Oyo Town. During this raid, NDLEA operatives discovered 118 jumbo bags containing a total of 1,416kg of skunk, cleverly concealed under sawdust in the grandmother’s residence. In addition to the primary suspect, two other individuals were also detained.
In Lagos, a raid conducted on Friday at the residence of a notorious drug dealer in Ogombo, Ajah, led to the arrest of a couple. The operatives seized nine bottles of codeine syrup and 30 grammes of skunk. A subsequent operation at the suspect’s wife’s shop on Lagos Island resulted in the recovery of additional drug paraphernalia, including two bottles of codeine and 42 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 22.5kg. An attempt by the wife to dispose of some drug evidence in the toilet was thwarted by the quick action of the operatives.
In Ekiti, another couple, who had been evading arrest since March 26 for their involvement in the possession of 117kg of skunk, was apprehended on June 16 at Oniyo Street, Efon-Alaaye, following an extensive manhunt.
Further operations on the Okene/Lokoja Highway in Kogi State led to the interception of a suspect traveling with 1.030kg of methamphetamine hidden in custard containers. In Edo, NDLEA operatives carried out a raid in the Khagba Forest, Ikao, Owan East LGA, where they destroyed 1,744.075kg of skunk and confiscated 169kg of processed substances. Another operation in Ebora Camp, Ilushi, resulted in the destruction of 2,424.945kg of cannabis, and the arrest of a suspect with 395kg of skunk.
The NDLEA has continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts, conducting educational activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities nationwide. Recent lectures took place at educational institutions including Orun Community Grammar School in Orun-Ekiti and Government Girls Secondary School in Charanchi, among others. Additionally, the Rivers State Command conducted a WADA advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuogba Kingdom, HRH Temple Ejekwu.
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended the officers and personnel of the Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, and Edo commands for their successful operations and emphasized the importance of balancing drug supply reduction efforts with WADA sensitisation activities. He urged all agency members across the nation to maintain their vigilance and dedication to the ongoing fight against drug abuse.