NDLEA Seizes N2.1bn Worth of Codeine Syrup and ‘Loud’ Consignments

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2,185,000,000.00 in street value at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos State.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said, with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday May 31, 2024, operatives intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands at the Lagos airport.

The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-Arrival Hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies during a joint search operation while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is resident in Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria.

The NDLEA disclosed that, during his interview, the suspect claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of N6million.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives on Monday May 27, intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.

During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered.

In Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway on Friday 31st May while travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa State.

In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, May 29, nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.

Two suspects – Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara Forest, Ara-Ekiti in Ekiti State where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks.

Operatives of the anti-narcotic agency also destroyed over 4,000kg of same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday, May 30 in the forest.