NDLEA seizes six vehicles, 40ft-trailer loaded with skunk

● Intercepts cocaine concealed in face cream bottles on their way to Australia
● Seizes codeine shipment worth N1.1bn in Rivers
●Arrests traditional priest for drug trafficking

In a meticulously coordinated operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a 40ft-trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The raid, conducted at 1:20 am on Saturday, January 11, 2025, also led to the seizure of six vehicles, including a Toyota Van, Toyota Camry, Toyota Sienna, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux, Toyota Corolla, and a Vento Passat, alongside the arrest of 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.

The consignment, sourced from Uzebba in Owan Local Government Area of Edo State, was destined for distribution across Northern states.

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In a related operation in the FCT, NDLEA officers apprehended Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, in Nyanya, recovering 1.398kg of cocaine and precursor substances for crack cocaine production.

Meanwhile, at a logistics firm in Lagos, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a shipment destined for Australia, concealing 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330 grams within face cream containers.

In Rivers State, a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies uncovered 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at over N1.19 billion, during container inspections at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, on January 9 and 10, 2025.

NDLEA operatives also arrested Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine in Lagos, implicated in a 2,760kg skunk seizure in October 2024. His capture follows a three-month manhunt.

In Kano, NDLEA officers conducted a raid in Gadar Tamburawa, leading to the arrest of 23-year-old Habibu Ya’u and the recovery of 24.2kg of cannabis and 40,800 pills of opioids, including tramadol.

As part of the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), various commands across the nation have intensified sensitization efforts in schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities, promoting awareness and prevention.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers for their balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction, highlighting the significance of their operational successes nationwide.