Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cannabis, also known as “Loud,” hidden in a duvet and intended for the United Kingdom.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the consignment was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The statement revealed that two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, connected to the consignment, were immediately arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers.
“Six parcels of the psychoactive substance, weighing a total of 3.50 kilograms, were concealed inside the duvet,” the statement said.
According to Babafemi, Austin Balogun, the primary agent who hired Adakole, claimed he was paid ₦700,000 to transport the consignment to the UK. However, a portion of the money was used to pay for export handling charges, while the majority was spent on renting an apartment.
Further investigations led to a raid in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, where a hideout was uncovered, and “skuchies” (a new psychoactive substance) and weapons were seized.
Babafemi added, “At least two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun, were arrested in Igbo Olomu, Ikorodu, during the raid. Seven litres of skuchies, made from black currant, cannabis, and opioids, were recovered, along with several firearms, including three locally-made double barrel rifles, a locally-made double barrel pistol, one English-made pistol, a locally-made single barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-headed axe.”
Another raid in the Akala area of Mushin, Lagos, on January 19 led to the seizure of 47kg of skunk (a cannabis strain) and 25.46kg of Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The operations extended beyond Lagos, with a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, arrested on January 23 in Ekiti State for possessing 1.950kg of Canadian Loud. On January 20, Auwal Sani was apprehended in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, with 50,000 pills of tramadol (225mg), weighing 36.56kg.
The statement also highlighted the arrest of a Nigerien, Abubakar Lami, 45, along with two others, Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, at Gadar Tamburawa in Kano. They were found in possession of 13.1kg of skunk and 125 litres of “suck and die,” another new psychoactive substance.
In another operation in Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu council area of Kano, a cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed by NDLEA officers, who also arrested Sabo Ali Muhammad, 45, in connection with the farm.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), praised the officers involved in the operations and reiterated the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and promoting drug abuse prevention.