NDLEA Uncovers Illicit Drugs Concealed in Water Purifiers, Seizes Military-Grade Ammunition in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered consignments of high-potency illicit drugs concealed in water purifier machines imported from Europe, while also intercepting a cache of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, NDLEA officers discovered and seized three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, popularly known as Ecstasy, carefully concealed in water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.
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The illicit consignments were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on May 26.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna State arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, following the recovery of 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms.
The drugs were seized from their residence in the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna on May 24.
The agency also reported that its officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway near Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was allegedly transporting 380 rounds of military-grade 7.62mm ammunition to Katsina State.
Babafemi said the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk on May 27.
A suspect, Godwin Zakka, 46, was subsequently arrested at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, in Enugu State, operatives on patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle with registration number JAY-158-YF travelling to Taraba State.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tablets of tramadol, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam.
The suspect, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Babafemi noted that beyond enforcement activities, NDLEA commands and formations across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, places of worship, workplaces and communities during the week.
He said the awareness programmes were conducted at Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River; St. Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra, among other locations.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and personnel of the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu Commands, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), for the successful arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged them to sustain the momentum in reducing the supply of illicit drugs while continuing public sensitisation efforts aimed at preventing drug abuse across the country.