The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking with major arrests and seizures across several states, including the destruction of a massive 178,000kg cannabis farm in Taraba State.
A 75-year-old grandpa, Uchelue Ikechukwu, was among six suspects arrested in Anambra State with illicit substances, while 30-year-old Alfa Andrew was nabbed in Taraba after NDLEA operatives stormed his 71.5-hectare cannabis farm in Mayodoga forest, Sardauna Local Government Area, destroying over 178,000 kilograms of skunk. Andrew was also found in possession of a Dane gun.
Major arrests across states
- In Anambra, Uchelue was arrested with 26.7kg of skunk at Umudioka, Dunukofia LGA, while five others were nabbed in Nkwelle and Amichi with opioids and skunk.
- In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives intercepted 104,900 capsules of tramadol hidden in a fuel tanker at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate. Suspect Hassan Buba was taken into custody. Another suspect, Kabir Sulaiman, 45, was caught with 34.1kg of skunk in Zaria.
- In Borno, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, a major opioid supplier, was arrested in Maiduguri with 30,640 pills of tramadol, 7,940 rohypnol tablets, and ₦7.99 million cash.
- In Nasarawa, two suspects were arrested in Mararaba Karu and Lafia with over 109,000 pills of opioids and 38 bottles of codeine.
- In Adamawa, a suspect was caught with 15,000 capsules of tramadol concealed in animal feed, while another was arrested with 58kg of skunk hidden in sacks of pepper.
- In Kano, multiple arrests led to the seizure of over 250,000 tablets of exol-5, new psychoactive substances, and 25.7kg of skunk.
- In Edo, Lagos, Ondo, and Ekiti, NDLEA operatives seized thousands of opioid pills, bottles of codeine, cannabis seeds, and other narcotics, including the largest single seizure of Loud and Colorado strains in Ekiti State.
NDLEA intensifies sensitization campaigns
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts nationwide. Advocacy visits and lectures were held in schools, churches, palaces, workplaces, and government institutions, reaching communities in Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ogun, and other states.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the states for their efforts in curbing drug abuse and trafficking, urging them to sustain the momentum.
