The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Sunday that their operatives, from various special units, successfully intercepted significant quantities of cocaine and Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis. These illicit substances were concealed within household items and vehicles imported from Durban, South Africa, and Canada at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.This operation, driven by coordinated intelligence and months of tracking, resulted in the joint examination of three containers by NDLEA officers, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies between Thursday, January 18, and Friday, January 19, 2024. Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, disclosed this information in a statement issued on Sunday.The examination revealed 1,274 parcels of cocaine and Colorado, totaling 884.09 kilograms, alongside arms, ammunition, and various military effects. The items were found in containers arriving at the Tincan port from Durban, South Africa, aboard a vessel marked MSC RESILIENT III on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023. One suspect linked to the containers, 41-year-old Akara Chibugo, associated with the 32.5kg shipment of Colorado, has been apprehended by NDLEA operatives.The statement also highlighted other interceptions, including the prevention of two drug trafficking attempts at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Two vigilant freight agents avoided involvement in sending 1kg of concealed cannabis to Turkey by submitting the shipment to NDLEA checks. Additionally, NDLEA operatives arrested Okosun Paul Punitt, the consignee of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, at the Lagos airport.Further operations in Kano led to the seizure of 5,653,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and exol-5 from three suspects. In Lagos, Ali Abubakar and Murtala Sani were arrested with 110kg of cannabis sativa, while 69kg of the same substance was recovered from a fleeing suspect in Akerele, Surulere. Codeine-based cough syrup was seized in Abuja, and significant opioid pill seizures occurred in Taraba and Abia states.Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers and men involved in the successful operations, urging them to remain focused in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in achieving the agency’s goals.
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