By Femi Anamelechi
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has remained very resilient in the fight against illicit drugs as the Agency through credible intelligence and strategic collaborations has recorded another milestone. The eagle eyes of the operatives of NDLEA intercepted sixty-six (66) parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, packaged as green tea at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos. The seizure made on Thursday 5th June 2025 was following credible intelligence received ahead of the arrival of the consignment at the cargo wing of the airport on 11th May.
The NDLEA had watch-listed the shipment, and sustained surveillance around it for over three weeks before inviting other stakeholders for a joint examination last Thursday. According to the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi the consignment which weighted 62.20kg was concealed inside wraps of green tea that came from Thailand via UAE on an Emirate Airlines flight. In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Monday 2nd June intercepted a consignment of 1,665kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, along Lekki-Ajah expressway. Two suspects: Gidado Abdulrasaq Ayinde and Obanla Oluwafemi were promptly arrested in connection with the seizure.
In another intelligence led swoop in Kaduna, operatives of the state command of NDLEA on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna expressway on Tuesday 3rd June arrested 29 year old Goodluck Nnaemeka with 612 bottles of codeine-based syrup and 2,970 pills of flunitrazepam. The operatives on same day arrested 52 year old wanted drug dealer Kabiru Musa (a.k.a KB) at Kurmin Mashi. The NDLEA after conducting a search recovered a total of 25.7kg skunk from his base. The Agency also recovered a total of 9kg Loud from the spare tyre compartment of an Audi station wagon car marked AAA 975 XU driven by Atari Israel, 45. NDLEA in after swift operation along Auchi road, Edo state arrested two young ladies: Favour Joy and Joy Igwe at Ikpoba hill area of Benin city. Drugs recovered from them include: 106.57kg skunk; 1kg Loud; 800grams Colorado and 302grams of methamphetamine.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by the NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. These activities include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Sir Usman Nagogo College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Katsina; Fountain of Knowledge International Academy, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Prof. Eyo Ita Municipal Model Primary School, Calabar, Cross River; Millennium High School, Egbeda, Lagos; and Community Secondary School, Ichida Anaocha, Anambra; while Zone 13 Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Amayanabo of Nembe kingdom, Dr. Edmund Dakoru, Mingi Xii, in Nembe, Bayelsa state; among others. While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kaduna, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
