Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large cache of military-grade ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The seizure, comprising 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition, occurred during routine patrol operations on Tuesday, 12 May.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed in a statement on Sunday that a 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan, was arrested while conveying the bullets. The ammunition was concealed within bags of fresh white cassava granules, a local food staple known as garri. Both the suspect and the exhibit have been transferred to an alternative security agency for further investigation.
Intercontinental narcotics shipments disrupted in Lagos
The highway interception coincides with the discovery of cocaine and various opioids hidden within the walls of commercial shipping cartons destined for the United Kingdom and Australia. NDLEA operatives recorded the two seizures at a courier company in Lagos on Friday, 15 May, during a routine examination of outbound shipments.
The agency recovered 170 grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and embedded in the structural lining of a carton containing clothing items heading to Australia. In a separate package bound for the United Kingdom, officers recovered a wide range of opioids. The haul included 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection.
Multi-tonne cannabis farms destroyed in southern raids
Simultaneous anti-narcotics operations in Delta State led to the destruction of massive illegal cultivation sites. On Sunday, 10 May, operatives raided Ejeonu village in the Ukwuani Local Government Area, where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of cannabis (locally called skunk) spanning 11 hectares of farmland. Officers also recovered 22.9 kilograms of the harvested substance, arresting 52-year-old suspect Ifeanyichukwu Peter during a follow-up operation at Obiaruku.
A similar raid on Tuesday, 12 May, at Orogun village in the Ughelli North Local Government Area resulted in the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of the psychoactive substance across 15 hectares of farmland. Operatives recovered 55.4 kilograms of harvested cannabis and arrested 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera. Backed by military personnel, the two southern operations accounted for the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of illicit crops.
Domestic distribution networks dismantled across several states
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, intelligence-led operations on Monday, 11 May, led to the arrest of Ogadi Peter, a 29-year-old businessman. The suspect allegedly specialized in manufacturing drug-laced cakes and cookies for social gatherings in the capital. Investigators traced him to his residence in the Life Camp district, recovering 800 grams of cannabis and 2.7 kilograms of narcotics-infused baked goods.
Parallel raids across the country yielded significant arrests and seizures:
Kaduna State: Operatives recovered 361 kilograms of cannabis and arrested Husaini Suleiman, 42, during a raid in the Dan Magaji area of Zaria town on Wednesday, 13 May.
Ogun State: Approximately 181 kilograms of cannabis were seized in the Ogere area on Wednesday, 13 May, from suspect Aliyu Sani.
Taraba State: Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, 27, was arrested along the Zaki-Biam road in the Wukari Local Government Area on Thursday, 14 May, with 105,850 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
Oyo State: Adeleke Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were apprehended on Thursday, 14 May, at Challenge II in Saki town with 99 litres of “skuchies,” a potent local drug concoction.
Edo State: Officers destroyed 1,388.42 kilograms of cannabis across two farms in the Ago forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, on Friday, 15 May.
Kano State: Acting on credible intelligence on Monday, 11 May, operatives recovered 1.2 kilograms of high-dose tramadol pills hidden inside a 25-litre jerrycan of palm oil at the Kofar Ruwa motor park. On the same day, Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested in the Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of cannabis.
National drug awareness advocacy intensifies
Alongside enforcement operations, the NDLEA has expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaigns. National commands continued targeted educational deployments throughout the week to curb domestic drug abuse.
Key initiatives included WADA sensitization lectures delivered to students and faculty at several academic institutions. These included The Apostolic Church Model College in Ijokodo, Ibadan (Oyo State); the School of Health Technology in Lambata (Niger State); Yewa Junior High School in Agege (LTC, Lagos); Government Secondary School in Yardaje (Katsina State); Igogo Commercial High School (Ekiti State); and Government Girls Secondary School in Magwan (Kano State).
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