NDLEA Intercepts Colossal Drug Consignment in Boxing Kits on New Year’s Day; 12 Arrested Across Multiple States
In a major operation on New Year’s Day, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a significant consignment of Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed within boxing kits imported from the United States of America at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The weeklong intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle, a 38-year-old distributor of the psychoactive substance in Lagos. The shipment, weighing 1.80 kilograms, had arrived in the country on January 1, camouflaged as boxing kits.
Saheed revealed that he routinely delivers such shipments from his childhood friend, US-based Sagir Salami. The NDLEA successfully tracked and arrested Saheed on January 6, concluding their operation.
In parallel efforts across Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Borno, and Osun states, NDLEA operatives arrested a total of 12 individuals. Among them was Bilkisu Suleman, a 28-year-old female supplier of ammunition to bandits. She was apprehended with 249 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition along Zaria-Kano expressway on January 3.
In other notable seizures, the military authorities at the Bonny Camp cantonment in Lagos transferred a suspect named Francis Suru, along with 63 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud (2,104.2 kilograms), a strain of cannabis, to the NDLEA in Lagos.
Additional arrests included suspects in Niger, Kano, Borno, and Osun, each linked to the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs. The seized substances ranged from cannabis sativa to designer drugs, with quantities varying across the different operations.
NDLEA Commands across the country also continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures in schools, communities, workplaces, and other forums.
Commending the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), urged officers to remain vigilant and intensify efforts in drug demand and supply reduction throughout the new year.
