By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has intercepted over 2.3million tablets of illicit pharmaceutical opioids and other psychoactive substances meant for distribution in seven Northern states of Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Gombe and Nasarawa in series of interdiction operations in the past week.
A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, noted in all, a total of two million, three hundred and twenty five thousand five hundred and fifty three (2, 325, 553.00) tablets and capsules of Tramadol, Pregabalin, Hypnox, Diazepam and Exol-5 including seven thousand, three hundred and fifty three 7, 353 bottles of a new psychoactive substance locally called Akuskura meant for the seven states were seized from different locations across Kaduna, Kogi, Sokoto, and the FCT.
The statement also revealed that amongst the arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos is major importer of Loud variant of cannabis from the United States, Abibu Afis Sola and a 63-year-old grandfather, Afolabi Abideen Kolawole, who ships illicit substances to his daughter in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE.
Abibu had been arrested in connection with a 19.30kg Colorado consignment from Los Angeles, USA, which was intercepted on 30th June at the NAHCO cargo import shed of the Lagos airport but anothet 37.1kg consignment of Loud intercepted on 7th July was also traced to him while he was still being interviewed in custody.
While grandpa Kolawole, who was arrested at Ibadan, Oyo State in relation to an intercepted drug exhibit going to Dubai, on 4th August after more than four sets of arrests eventually unraveled him on Thursday 18th August, confessed that he was responsible for the concealment and packaging of the cannabis inside the black native soap used as mode of concealment.
He also admitted this was his second attempt at sending such illicit substance to his daughter, Barakat, in Dubai.
Reacting on the achievements, the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the respective commands for the arrests and seizures and urged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify their drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
