Operatives of the NDLEA at the Murtala Mohammmed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 27,510 pills of rohypnol concealed in alcohol sachets destined for South Africa. A freight agent and cab driver were initially arrested, leading to the capture of the mastermind, Samuel Omoruyi (alias Yellow), 46, during a follow-up operation at Oyingbo Market on 2nd October.
Similarly, an Italy-based businessman, Enehizena Augustine Uyimwen, was nabbed while attempting to export 3,700 pills of tramadol 225mg and 2,600 tablets of tapentadol 200mg concealed in food items. He confessed to trafficking the drugs on behalf of another individual for €945 (Nine Hundred and Forty-Five Euros).
Across various states, NDLEA operatives made significant seizures:
- Edo State: 47kg of skunk recovered from the home of Emmanuel Sunday, 33, at Ugbekpe Ekperi, Etsako Central LGA.
- Osun State: Two suspects, Nureni Ayobami Eleweodo (48) and Oladejo Taiwo (52), arrested at Omifufun village, Ife South LGA, with 635kg of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus. Two others, Timothy Omiwole (41) and Isaac Achiatan (36), were also arrested with 100kg of skunk and a motorcycle.
- Rivers State: Okoro Julius (20) and Onyebuchi Nwibo (25) were caught with 8.5kg of skunk, while Sulaiman Kalalu (46) was arrested in Katsina State with 29.5kg of the same substance.
- Niger State: Yisa Daniel (29) was arrested at New Bussa with 22,000 tramadol capsules, 800 ampoules of pentazocine, and 150,000 Exol-5 pills.
- Ondo State: 312kg of skunk was recovered from Ologede camp, Ogbese, while on the Benin-Lagos expressway, two suspects — Francis John (39) and Adeyemi Taiwo (46) — were arrested with 141.8kg of skunk.
- Kaduna State: Rufai Ahmed (27), also known as Farin Malam, was intercepted at the Abuja-Kaduna toll gate transporting 150,000 Exol-5 pills from Lagos to Katsina.
In addition to the arrests, NDLEA formations nationwide intensified War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across schools, worship centres, and communities. Outreach activities were conducted in Adamawa, Ebonyi, Katsina, Enugu, Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers, Kano, and Osun States, among others.
While commending the officers of MMIA, MAKIA, DOGI, Kano, Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, and Osun Commands, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged operatives to maintain tenacity, professionalism, and balanced dedication in the agency’s ongoing drug control operations