NDLEA Intercepts Billions Worth of Methamphetamine, Cannabis, and Codeine at Ports
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made groundbreaking seizures of methamphetamine, Loud (a potent synthetic strain of cannabis), and codeine-based syrup worth billions of naira at Lagos’ Tincan Seaport and the Port Harcourt Port Complex.
Lagos Seizure: Meth and Loud
NDLEA operatives intercepted 83.301 kilograms of methamphetamine and 867.5 kilograms of Loud concealed in shipments of automobile spare parts from Canada.
The drugs, intended for distribution during the festive season, were tracked across three continents in what NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi described as the agency’s first seizure of methamphetamine consignments from separate containers.
Details of the Seizure:
- Methamphetamine: Combined weight of 83.301kg, valued at ₦124,951,000.
- Loud: 867.5kg packed in 44 jumbo bags and six plastic coolers, worth ₦2,168,750,000.
- Suspects: Three businessmen—Isaac Onwumere, Nwanolue Emeka, and Friday Ogbe—have been apprehended.
The shipments were monitored from their origin in Canada through transit points in Montreal, Antwerp, and Europe, arriving in Lagos between December 1 and December 6.
Port Harcourt Seizure: Codeine-Based Syrup
In a separate operation at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, NDLEA officials intercepted 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup with an estimated street value of ₦4.5 billion.
Details of the Operation:
- Origin: Shipments came from India.
- Timeline: The bottles were seized during joint inspections on December 9, 11, and 13, 2024.
- Value: ₦4,456,200,000.
Implications and Operations
The NDLEA described the seizures as a culmination of months of intelligence-driven operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to dismantling narcotics networks operating across borders.
Babafemi highlighted the sophistication of the operations, stating, “This success showcases our capacity to track and interdict narcotics from their origin to their intended destination.”
The suspects are in custody, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of the trafficking networks.
Public Concern
The seizures underscore the rising sophistication of drug trafficking networks and the NDLEA’s intensifying efforts to combat the trade. With methamphetamine and Loud increasingly popular among youths, and the dangers of codeine abuse still prevalent, these operations mark significant strides in Nigeria’s anti-drug war.
The NDLEA continues to urge the public to provide information that can aid in curbing drug trafficking and safeguarding communities from the menace of illicit drugs.
