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NDLEA Intercepts 2.4m Tramadol Pills From Pakistan …Female Drug Dealer With 78 Bags Of Cannabis
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 2,465,000 tablets of Tramadol at the MurtalaMuhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The pharmaceutical opioid weighed 2,256kg with an estimated street value of N1.04billion, the spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement, yesterday.
The seizure on October 7 was made barely a week after 13.5million pills of Tramadol, worth N8.8billion, were found in one of the mansions of a billionaire drug baron in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.
NDLEA said the latest seizure, a consignment of 52 cartons, came into Nigeria from Karachi, Pakistan, with six different airway bills via an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The packages comprised seven cartons of 250mg of a brand called Tamral and 45 cartons of 225mg, branded as Tramaking.
Another bid to export 15 parcels of cannabis and 600grams of tramadol 225mg concealed in a sack of crayfish to Dubai, UAE, was thwarted.
The freight agent, Osahor Alex Ekwueme, is in custody.
However, weeks after operatives intercepted 5.20kgs of cannabis concealed in kegs of palm oil, going to Dubai, at the NAHCO export shed, the owner, IfeanyiEgbuwaohia, has been arrested in Igando, Lagos.
Though Ifeanyi works as a technician at Computer Village, Ikeja, he also belongs to a drug network in Dubai, where he sends illicit drugs for distribution.
Babafemi disclosed that hours after his arrest, another consignment of 2.60kgs of the same substance he sent for export to Dubai was intercepted at Lagos airport.
Another consignment of 1.30kgs of cannabis concealed in reconstructed engine blocks going to Dubai was seized at the SAHCO export shed.
Two suspects, Olatunji Kehinde Temiola and Osemojoye Femi Sunday have been arrested in connection with the shipment.
In Kaduna, a female drug dealer, Peace Ayuba, was on Friday arrested at Kakau Gonin Gora with 78 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 849.5kgs.
Similarly, NDLEA agents in Sokoto arrested 28-year-old OnyekaOwo with 443 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Similarly, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a female drug dealer, Peace Ayuba, with 78 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 849.5kgs at KakauGonin Gora area of Kaduna State.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made the disclosure via a statement, yesterday.
Babafemi noted that the female drug dealer was arrested on Friday, adding that the NDLEA operatives also arrested a 28-year-old man with 443 bottles of codeine-based syrup in Sokoto State.
He stated that the NDLEA also secured the conviction of a notorious drug dealer in the Alaba Rago area of Ojo, Lagos State, Surajo Mohammed, ten months after his arrest by the anti-drug agency.üÿ
The NDLEA spokesman said Mohammed was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Yellin Dogoro on Thursday.
Babafemi disclosed that Mohammed was arrested with 941.15kgs cannabis on December 20, 2021, and arraigned in court in charge number FHC/L/370c/2021.
He said Mohammed was however given a fine option of N7million.
Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged the operatives of the anti-drug agency and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast, resolute, and unrelenting until the last gram of illicit drugs is taken away from Nigeria.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
