ASHENEWS reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted three trailers loaded with opioids conveying over three million pills of illicit drugs.
The NDLEA, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi also said that the consignment included an additional 344,000 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
According to the NDLEA, those arrested include the warehouse agent, Cosmas Obiajulu, 51; Ridwan Balogun, 25, and Banjo Tayo, 30, who are both drivers of two of the trucks while the third driver jumped off to escape arrest after they were intercepted at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos state.
“The multi-billion naira consignments were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal, Abule-Osun, near the International Trade Fair complex before heading to a large warehouse at Abule-Ado where NDLEA officers eventually arrested the suspects and recovered the opioid consignments on Thursday 9th May 2024,” the NDLEA said.
The angency also announced the arrest of a 75-year-old suspect, Jibril Audu in possession of 7.5 kilograms of cannabis.
The suspect, according to the NDLEA was arrested on Friday 10th May at Oke-asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, of Ekiti state during a raid operation.
Another suspect, a 70-year-old woman identified as Tikwase Nytor was nabbed with 15.6kg of the same substance on Thursday 9th May during a raid operation at Achusa and International Market road, Makurdi, Benue state, the NDLEA said.