December 08, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Phillip Inya, a self-proclaimed building engineer, for attempting to take delivery of illicit drugs concealed in pressure machines imported from South Africa.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the 42-year-old suspect was apprehended on December 2, 2024, at Okeyson Motor Park, Enugu, when he came to collect three units of pressure machines.
Hidden inside the machines were 7.40 kilograms of Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis.
According to the NDLEA, the consignment had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja on November 29, 2024. Following credible intelligence, operatives from the MMIA Strategic Command tracked the shipment through the clearing process up to a logistics warehouse outside the airport.
However, the collection point was changed to Enugu at the last minute, prompting a coordinated operation that led to Egwu’s arrest.
In Adamawa State, operatives on patrol intercepted a Siena vehicle at Hildi, along the Askira-Uba route, containing 511,000 tramadol pills. The vehicle’s occupants abandoned the car and its illicit cargo upon noticing NDLEA officers on their trail.
In Ekiti State, two suspects, Olanrewaju Alale (48) and Babatunde Kayode Ijadahun (55), were arrested on the Ise-Emure Road while transporting 108 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,323 kilograms in a J5 bus marked EPE 958 XJ.
The duo claimed the drugs were destined for Owo, Ondo State, before being distributed to the northern region. Similarly, in Oyo State, operatives arrested 33-year-old Adekunle Yusuf on December 6 at Idere Road, Igboora, with 704 kilograms of cannabis concealed in white sacks.
In Lagos, a 65-year-old grandmother, Ramata Bola Adeyemo, was arrested at her residence on 62 Odunfa Street, Lagos Island, where operatives recovered 20.6 liters of codeine-based syrup. .
Another suspect, Alhaji Lawan Manga, was apprehended on December 5 at Ogundana Street, Ikeja, with 4.7 kilograms of cannabis and 1.3 kilograms of tramadol.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse campaigns, hosting sensitization programs in schools, communities, and organizations across the country.
Events were held in institutions like Progressive Secondary School in Oyo State, Muslim Grammar School in Osun State, and Government Girls College in Maiduguri, among others.
The Lagos State Command also engaged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Orile Agege in anti-drug awareness programs.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers in MMIA, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo Commands for their diligence and successful operations.
“These arrests and seizures underscore our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and safeguarding communities from the menace of substance abuse,” Marwa said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
