NDLEA Intercepts Massive Opioid Consignment in Taraba, Arrests 75-Year-Old Suspect in Ebonyi

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large consignment of opioids concealed in a truck carrying building materials in Taraba State and arrested a 75-year-old suspected drug dealer in Ebonyi as part of a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking.

In a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA said operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a truck travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo, Taraba State, where a search uncovered 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 rohypnol tablets and 299 bottles of codeine syrup hidden beneath building materials.

The agency said a 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested 75-year-old Okebe Samuel at Okposi with 300 grams of skunk allegedly packaged for retail distribution.

The anti-narcotics agency also arrested a suspected female drug dealer, Chioma Okeke, during a raid on a drug enclave in Umulolo, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, where eight kilograms of skunk were recovered.

In Edo State, a major operation in Benin City led to the arrest of four suspects, including three women, with various quantities of skunk, loud, methamphetamine and other illicit substances.

Similarly, operatives in Kano State arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan with 38 kilograms of skunk, while in Gombe State, 28-year-old Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi was apprehended with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across the country regardless of age, gender or concealment methods used by suspects.