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By David Torough with agency report

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 14.5 million pills of tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup worth more than N13 billion in street value in Lagos in three days.

The hauls were made in three major busts of drug cartels operating at Amuwo Odofin; at Idumota and at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja that the first seizure was made at House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace Way area of Amuwo Odofin on October 29

In the house, 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup were seized.

In another raid on October 31, NDLEA operatives swooped on a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire trader at Idumota, Lagos, Nwaoha Anayo, and seized 12.8 million pills of tramadol.

Anayo himself lives at Onitire, Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos.

In the third burst NDLEA arrested six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the SAHCO warehouse into the country.

Babafemi stated that 1.2 million pills of tramadol were seized from the syndicate in a painstaking operation that lasted for weeks.

“The six suspects already in NDLEA custody are Oladele Sanya-Olu, Lawal Temitope, Sanamo Daniel, Udeh Monday, Musa Mutalib and Evans Icibor.

“Three other suspects, Sarki Salami, Abdullahi Aliyu (aka Aboki) and Monday Anwal, are now on the run and had been declared wanted by the NDLEA,’’ Babfemi stated.

Also, the NDLEA has arrested three visually-impaired men operating an illicit drug ring between Lagos and Kano as the fourth equally disabled member of the gang was still at large.

NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that the lid was blown off the group following the arrest of a visually-impaired suspect, Adamu Hassan, 40.

Babafemi stated that Hassan was arrested on October 28 with 12kgs of skunk in his possession on Gwagwalada Expressway in the federal capital territory (FCT) while on his way from Lagos to Kano.

He added that investigations established that he was totally oblivious of the content of the bag handed to him to deliver in Kano.

Babafemi stated also that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the arrowhead of the syndicate, Bello Abubakar, 45, also visually-impaired.

“In his statement, Abubakar, who is married and has five children, said he had been living in Lagos for 30 years, but started the illicit drug business five years ago.

“Another member of the syndicate, Muktar Abubakar (59), who is equally visually-impaired, had been living in Lagos for 40 years. He has three wives and 14 children.

“Muktar Abubakar and Bello Abubakar are joint owners of the business, while the third suspect, Akilu Amadu (25), also visually-impaired, contributes money to the criminal trade.

“He was indeed the one who delivered the consignment to Hassan at the motor park in Lagos to deliver in Kano,’’ Babafemi stated.

He added that one Malam Aminu, also visually-impaired and was expected to take delivery of the consignment in Kano, was currently at large.

Similarly, a Netherland-bound businessman, Nwokolo Ifeanyi, 50, has excreted 86 pellets of heroin weighing 1.330kg while in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) custody.

NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that Ifeanyi was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on October 29, while travelling to Amsterdam via Paris.

“The suspect who travelled from Lagos to board the flight in Abuja was subsequently kept under observation for some days during which he excreted the drugs,’’ he stated.

Babafemi added that NDLEA operatives attached to courier firms also intercepted 22 parcels of cocaine on October 30.

The drugs were concealed in the walls of a carton containing woven local fabrics popularly called “Aso Oke’’, heading to Jeddah.

On November 4, NDLEA operatives stormed the Obada Sawmill Forest in Owena-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun where they arrested one Monday Sylvester (37).

Babafemi stated that Sylvester was arrested on 6.01 hectares of Indian hemp which was destroyed and 489.8kg of already processed weed recovered.

He added that operatives in Edo raided a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi Forest, in Owan West Local Government Area where 603kg of Indian hemp were seized.

In Ogun, NDLEA officers recovered a Toyota Sienna bus from a ditch at Ajebo Area on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on November 3.

“A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 460kg of Indian hemp.

“At Olagunju Street in Mushin area of Lagos, NDLEA seized 116.5kg of Indian hemp belonging to a suspect still at large,’’ Babafemi stated.