Drug enforcement agents have busted a major smuggling ring operating through European ports into Nigeria. Officials at the NDLEA announced the crackdowns on Sunday.
Operatives discovered three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA hidden inside water purifier machines. The shipment had travelled from the Netherlands to Lagos, arriving at a courier facility on May 26.
The machines were expertly packed to conceal the narcotics. Authorities seized everything at the point of entry.
In Kaduna, agents made three arrests on May 24. They recovered 1,246 kilograms of skunk from a residence in Gonin Gora.
Musa Sunday and his wife Mercy Sunday were apprehended alongside Salomi Ezekiel, 38. All three faced custody for the enormous cache.
That same day, officers patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna Highway stopped a suspect with illegal ammunition. Sunusi Musa, aged 30, was transporting 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade rounds toward Katsina State.
Security agencies took custody of both the suspect and the ammunition. They'll conduct further investigations into the weapons trafficking.
Niger State agents struck on May 27 at a warehouse in Gidan Kukah. They pulled 457 kilograms of skunk from the facility in Bosso Local Government Area.
Godwin Zakka, 46, was later arrested at his residence in Minna's Gbeganu area. He's linked to the warehouse operation.
Enugu recorded another significant bust on May 28 along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway. Officers stopped a commercial vehicle heading toward Taraba State.
Inside they found 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam. James Maigari Wisdom was arrested during the operation.
The agency has also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse campaign nationwide. Schools and communities across Cross River, Taraba, Lagos, and Anambra received awareness programs.
Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River hosted one session. St Patrick's Memorial College in Wukari, Taraba saw another.
NDLEA Chairman Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) praised the officers involved in these operations.
He noted the directorate's commitment to disrupting drug supply chains.
Marwa called on all operatives to maintain momentum across the country. He stressed the importance of both enforcement and public education against drug abuse.
