NDLEA SEIZES N3.4BN WORTH OF DRUGS IN NATIONWIDE OPERATIONS

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than N3.4bn in a series of operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The agency said its operatives recovered more than 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000kg of cannabis. The operations were carried out in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT.

At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81bn. The consignment reportedly arrived from Montreal on September 12 and was examined jointly with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

In Delta State, a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, was arrested for allegedly impersonating a senior police officer while transporting illicit drugs. Another suspect was also arrested in connection with the case.

In Edo, operatives arrested a mechanic, Matthew Ossai, at an auto-repair workshop where the agency said illicit drugs were recovered.

NDLEA said further arrests and recoveries were made in other states as investigations into the cases continue.