The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three dispatch riders in Abuja for allegedly distributing illicit drugs under the guise of commercial delivery services.
The suspects — Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28) — were apprehended during intelligence-led stop-and-search operations conducted on July 30 in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa districts of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi on Sunday, the operatives recovered a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from the suspects.
In a related operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of cocaine and tramadol concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors destined for Libreville, Gabon.
The seizure included 57,420 pills of Tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.6kg. A cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was arrested in connection with the shipment.
Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on July 20. Further searches at his residence uncovered 11 additional cocaine parcels hidden in four more side mirrors, bringing the total haul to 68 parcels weighing 2.6 kilograms.
Also in Lagos, a businesswoman, Nwafor Nneka, was arrested at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, on August 1. Her arrest followed the seizure of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine — a chemical cutting agent — hidden in ladies’ lipsticks bound for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Two cargo agents connected to the shipment were earlier arrested. Nneka reportedly confessed that she purchased the lipsticks while her husband, Remigus Nwafor — currently at large — handled the drug concealment.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Mushin, Lagos, arrested Joseph Michael on August 2 with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant.
In a separate incident, Ibrahim Sulaiman was caught in the Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of a locally-brewed drug cocktail known as skuchies.
In Benue State, NDLEA officers intercepted 100,000 tramadol capsules at a checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road. The suspect, 37-year-old Hussein Yusuf, was taken into custody on August 1.
Elsewhere, in Edo State, a warehouse in Ekpoma was raided, resulting in the arrest of William Alabi (44) and the recovery of 233.5kg of skunk.
In Borno, a passenger at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, was found with 160 tramadol pills hidden in footwear.
The suspect, Umar Aminu, 38, was arrested on arrival.
In Ogun State, a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, was arrested in Oja Odan with 7,218 pills of various opioids, mainly tramadol. Similarly, in Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives arrested Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) along Tantua Road, Amassoma, recovering 41,705 tramadol capsules from their premises.
In Kano, 30-year-old Bashir Gambo was apprehended in Yar Yasa, Tudun Wada Local Government Area, with 61kg of skunk.
In Osun State, a raid in the Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town led to the arrest of two suspects — Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25). NDLEA recovered 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash during the operation.
NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug distribution networks across the country and prosecuting all involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.