The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it has seized over 13,391.8 kilogrammes of skunk in Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa states respectively.

A statement by the Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi yesterday in Abuja, said no fewer than 1,955kgs of the illicit substance packed in 139 jumbo bags were recovered.

According to Babafemi, the drugs were stored in the warehouse of a wanted notorious drug dealer, Lekan Jimoh (aka Konmo Konmo) in Ado Odo Ota area of Ogun State, adding that the drugs were recovered in the early hours of Saturday August 12 in collaboration with officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
In Ondo State, Babafemi said Ogbu Odey, 30; Daniel Osidi, 34; John Iyage, 41; Friday Simon, 28; and Friday James, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure and, or destruction of over 10,325.5kgs of cannabis sativa in Iju and Ala forests, in Akure area of the state between last Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday August 10.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, a 22-year-old man, James Aga was arrested during a raid of an uncompleted building on the outskirts of Utese town in Ovia North East LGA of the state on August 11 with 10kg skunk, adding that 976kg of the same substance was recovered from the building in addition to the recovery of four motorcycles.

“In an earlier operation in Utese forest on Tuesday, August 8, at least 46.545kgs of skunk were recovered and 1.581146 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed. Two suspects: Onyelunisue Azuka, 48 and Abraham Ayomide, 30, were arrested.

“In Nasarawa state, 49-year-old Umar Abdullahi, was arrested on Friday August 11, with 64.8kgs of cannabis sativa in Doma council.

“NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI), on Wednesday August 9, intercepted a 4.5kg consignment of Loud coming from the United States at a courier firm in Lagos,” he said.

Also in Lagos State, the drug law agency said it intercepted three major illicit drug syndicates that led to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins in the state.
According to Babafemi, multi-billion-naira worth of Cocaine, opioids and Loud was recovered from their hideouts, adding that a female head of one of the syndicates, Faith Nwankwo, was arrested on August 9 at her residence, House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

The arrest, he said, was shortly after she returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV.

A search of her residence and the warehouse, Babafemi said, led to the recovery of 2,750,000 pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg, packed in 39 cartons, weighing 1,916 kilogrammes. He added that the drugs and the SUV were recovered while the suspect has been taken into custody.

In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicates involved in importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing in Cocaine and Canadian Loud, the NDLEA operatives on August 4 tracked a drug syndicate to the Atlantic Nominee Estate in Lekki- Ajah area of Lagos.

According to Babafemi, a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian Loud for distribution by the duo of Urama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.

He said a follow-up operation at Chinemelum’s residence at House 7, Road 7, Lagra Estate, Eti-Osa, Lagos, led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of Loud, weighing 18.5kg.

Also, on August 5, which is the following day, operatives of the Special Unit of the agency went after another syndicate involved in the importation, distribution, and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride.

“This is a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine and this came following the intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilogrammes of the substance.

“Two members of the syndicate: Udeh Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Uzozie, 50, were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the South-east.

“A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of Three Thousand ($3,000) US Dollars found on Udeh Ogbonna,” he said.