In a significant operation, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized a large quantity of illicit drugs worth billions of naira from a warehouse concealed within the International Trade Fair Complex in Alaba, Lagos. The warehouse was owned by a wanted billionaire drug baron. The seized items included 1.4 million pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826kgs, 3.2 million pills of codeine with a gross weight of 3,360kgs, and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 liters of the psychoactive substance. The combined street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be N4.82 billion.
During the operation, the NDLEA arrested a suspect named Paulinus Ojukwu, who served as the Chief Security Officer to the wanted drug baron, posing as an automobile spare parts dealer. The operation was carried out amid concerns of increasing drug-related crimes and trafficking activities.
This raid follows the recent arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo, who was apprehended with a significant quantity of tramadol pills. Furthermore, NDLEA operatives intercepted counterfeit Twenty Million US Dollar notes ($20 million) during a stop and search operation in the Federal Capital Territory. The suspected fake money was recovered from a bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja, and the driver was arrested.
In response to these successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the efforts of the officers involved and urged them to intensify their efforts against drug cartels. He emphasized the importance of eradicating drug-related crimes and bringing those responsible to justice.
The NDLEA’s actions reflect its commitment to curbing the production, distribution, and consumption of illicit drugs in Nigeria, with a strong focus on dismantling drug trafficking networks and ensuring public safety.
