Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted 396,000 capsules of tramadol at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola, on Friday.
The latest seizure comes less than a week after the agency recovered over 171,000 capsules of tramadol during separate operations in Niger, Benue, and Taraba states.
Announcing the development in a statement on Sunday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that a 50-year-old suspect, Ahmed Nda, had been arrested in connection with the offence.
According to the statement, “In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday 14th November recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect, Ahmed Isyaku Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola, while 785kg of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.”
In a related development, Babafemi confirmed the arrest of a wanted drug baron who had been operating under the guise of a businessman and hotelier.
“The 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig. Ltd was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66–68 Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday.
“He was later taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, Off Ago Palace Way, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms, were recovered.
“Also seized from him at the point of arrest were $11,600, 2,000 British pounds, 2,200 euros, and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash,” Babafemi stated.
He further disclosed that an attempt by a drug syndicate operating out of the Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve in Ife South LGA, Osun State, to distribute 11,135kg of processed skunk was foiled on Tuesday, following days of surveillance.
According to him, “Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments — a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ — were seized, and seven suspects were arrested.”
The suspects in custody, according to Babafemi, include Lucky Abiodun, Julius Amos, Victor Ngbikili, Sunday Oduegwu, Ibrahim Akanni, Eze Godstime, and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.
Commending the officers involved in the various operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) urged personnel nationwide to maintain the agency’s balanced and coordinated drug control strategy.
A report by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday detailed a recent sting operation in which the NDLEA recovered a consignment worth over N338bn at the PTML Terminal of the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The agency stated that it was collaborating with the US DEA and the UK’s National Crime Agency to identify those responsible for the shipment.
Copyright PUNCH