The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three persons living with disabilities for alleged involvement in drug trafficking operations across Anambra and Kwara states.
The agency also uncovered a massive cannabis warehouse valued at over ₦5.8bn in Lagos and dismantled an illicit drug-mixing factory in the state.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the agency, Romanus Nwabara, a 60-year-old suspect was arrested on May 6 at Akpaka Forest in Onitsha, Anambra state, after operatives allegedly recovered 250 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets from him.
Babafemi said another suspect, Amos Kenneth, 25, was apprehended during a separate raid in Ogbunike, where officers allegedly found 160.3 grams of Tramadol, 80 Diazepam pills, 38.23 grams of Exol-5 and 176.93 grams of skunk in his possession.
“In Kwara, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu on Friday, May 8, intercepted a commercial vehicle and, in the course of a search, one of the passengers, a PWD, Usman Salisu, was found with 6.3 kilograms of skunk concealed in a brown school bag,” the statement said.
In Lagos, operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit reportedly stormed a mansion in Lekki Phase 1 allegedly being used as a drug stash house.
The agency said 4,000 parcels of “Loud”, described as a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 2,326 kilograms and valued at more than ₦5.815bn were recovered during the operation.
Two Mercedes-Benz buses and packaging materials allegedly used for distributing the drugs were also seized from the property located on African Lane, Lekki.
Babafemi further disclosed that another suspect, Emmanuel Osita Okeke, was arrested in Nyanya, Nasarawa State, with 129 kilograms of skunk.
He added that NDLEA officers also intercepted a commuter bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State, where 766 kilograms of skunk concealed in 76 jumbo bags were recovered.
Three suspects identified as Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond and Babangida Musa were arrested in connection with the seizure.
The anti-narcotics agency also raided a makeshift “skuchies” production centre in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos.
“They were caught in the act of cooking cannabis and mixing same with other illicit substances. A total of 270 litres of already produced skuchies and 106 grams of Tramadol (225mg) were recovered from them,” Babafemi said while confirming the arrest of two suspects, Bose Jamiu and Gbenga Gege.
Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman commended officers involved in the operations and urged commands nationwide to sustain the agency’s anti-drug campaigns and enforcement activities.