Kano – In a series of dramatic operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a significant quantity of heroin and other illicit drugs across Nigeria.
Candy-Coated Contraband: The Kano Airport Interception
The most striking seizure occurred at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). NDLEA officers apprehended a 42-year-old Indian woman attempting to smuggle 72 parcels of heroin, cleverly disguised as chocolates and concealed within factory-sealed wafer wraps in her luggage. The heroin, a Class A drug, weighed a substantial 11 kilograms. The arrest took place on March 14 during the inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431, arriving from Bangkok via Vietnam and Doha, following credible intelligence.
Beyond the Airport: More Kano Drug Raids
The Kano operations didn’t stop at the airport. On March 20, NDLEA operatives in Kano made another significant bust, arresting a 45-year-old man with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder. Inside, hidden with remarkable ingenuity, were 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, discovered only after officers cut the cylinder open. On March 19, a 40-year-old man was caught with 27kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, in the Gunduwawa area. And in Lungun Bulala Yalwa, a female suspect was apprehended with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Lagos Operations: Uncovering Hidden Stashes
The fight against drug trafficking extended to Lagos. Officers intercepted two male suspects in Mushin with a hefty 67.5kg of skunk. A further 100.8kg of the same substance was recovered from a store belonging to two suspects who are currently on the run. Additional arrests in Apapa and Ikotun involved varying quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, and codeine syrup.
WADA Campaign: Taking the Fight to Communities
Beyond the seizures, the NDLEA is intensifying its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across the country. “Our officers have engaged in sensitization in schools, markets, workplaces, and worship centers,” stated NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, highlighting recent awareness programs in schools across multiple states.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended the agency’s operatives for their tireless efforts in both reducing drug supply and raising public awareness. “The balance between enforcement and sensitization is crucial, and I urge all formations to remain vigilant,” Marwa emphasized.
