By Adedapo Adesanya
The seizure of 9.5 million Tramadol tablets and Exol 5 worth over N5 billion in Abuja, Lagos and Edo States has been lauded by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Buba Marwa.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesman of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, it was stated that the pharmaceutical opioids were confiscated at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos in an operation carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Mr Marwa commended his officers and men for the working relationship with other security agencies in the country, charging them not to rest on their oars.
As for the drugs, the statement said, “Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated street value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday, March 29.
“This is alongside the seizure of 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs at the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.
“In Abuja, about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted on Friday, April 1, at Abaji area of the FCT. The truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano.
“Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23, and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested.”
Meanwhile, three-drug joints were raided at Wire road, Benin City, and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA of Edo where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested.
The agency said that one Mr Harrison Odion, a patent medicine dealer was arrested with 70 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup in another raid in Okada town, Edo state.
The statement said that 9,638 Tramadol capsules; 16,843 tablets of Exol-5; 80 tablets of Diazepam and 62 ampules of Diazepam injection were seized, adding that NDLEA operatives in the state also destroyed seven clusters of dry season Cannabis Sativa farms in Okpuje Forest along the banks of River Ose totalling 3.124998 hectares.
