By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it has destroyed 75, 544 kilogrammes of skunk in operations carried out across forests in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Taraba states.
NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said a total of 14,233.37 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed in four plantations measuring 5.69375 hectares at Ebule forest, Owan West Local Government Area(LGA), Edo on August 20.
“Similarly, in Delta State, the NDLEA operatives supported by the military destroyed a total of 25,500kg of skunk on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares in Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area (LGA) on August 21.
“Also in Ondo State, 25,025kg of the same psychoactive substance was destroyed on three farms with a combined measurement of 10.01 hectares at Asolo camp, Uso area of the state,” he said.
According to him, the NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on August 20, destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares of farmland at Dadin-Kowa village, Bali LGA, Taraba State.
Babafemi said 901kg of the same substance was evacuated from a warehouse at Uzebba in Owan West LGA, Edo State.
He added that a 54-year-old female suspect was arrested on August 19, in connection with the substance.
“Meanwhile, two dispatch riders were on August 21, arrested by the NDLEA operatives during a stop and search operation in Jabi area of Abuja for distributing illicit substances in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“While a male suspect, 29, was caught with 300 milligrams of pentazocine injection, another 35 years old suspect was nabbed with 8.64grams of skunk packaged for delivery,” he added.
He said various commands and formations of the agency across the country had continued their War Against Drug Abuse, sensitisation to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.(NAN)
In another development, the NDLEA said it has intercepted no fewer than 825,000 pills of opioids in separate operations in Kano, Adamawa and Kogi states.
Babafemi, while giving a breakdown, said a total of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were seized from a suspect in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The NDLEA spokesman said the suspect was arrested at the Idah Waterside after crossing the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra State to Lokoja, Kogi State with the opioids on August 20.
Babafemi said the agency’s operatives in another development, in Kano State, arrested two suspects, aged 25, and 24, at Zangon Dakata Ungogo, with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline on August 19.
While he said that a total of 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of another suspect, at Rangaza, Ungogo, now on the run.
“Also, a 35-old-year old, was arrested at Tashan Rami area of the state with 140 litres of codeine syrup, both on the same Tuesday.
“No fewer than 7,000 capsules of tramadol were seized by another 29 years old suspect along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora area of the state on Aug. 23,” he said.
He added that a total of 2, 289.49 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were intercepted in three interdiction operations by NDLEA operatives in Kwara .
Babafemi said 1,232.86kg was recovered from a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked ZUR 66 XT on August 20 at Ajase-Ipo area of the state with a suspect arrested.
“Another consignment of the same psychoactive substance weighing 328.42kg was seized from another Paul, suspect, 47, in a Mercedes Benz truck marked LSD 659 YE same day, same location.
“The following day August 21, NDLEA operatives intercepted another consignment of skunk weighing 728.21kg in a Mitsubishi Canter truck with registration number GAD 287 XA, at Ajase-Ipo junction, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara .
“Two suspects aged 44; and 45, were arrested, while another two suspects, aged 50, and 54, were nabbed at Alafia Quarters, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State in connection with the seizure of 96 kilogrammes of skunk,” he said.(NAN)
